Grief as Boniface Kariuki dies from gunshot injuries after 12 days in ICU
National
By
Jacinta Mutura
| Jul 01, 2025
Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, the 22-year-old mask vendor who was shot at point-blank range by a police officer during recent anti-police brutality protests, has died.
According to his father John Kariuki, died on Monday at 3.15pm, a day after medics at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) had declared him brain dead on Sunday and were waiting for the doctors to declare his death.
“We are saddened as a family to see such a young man’s life was cut short while trying to earn a living for himself,” said the family’s spokesman Emily Wanjira.
The family now hopes the officer who shot their kin will be charged with murder. “Now that he is no longer with us,we are seeking justice for our son,” she said
READ MORE
Inside 16-year pension tussle pitting Stanchart against its 629 ex-staff
Creative economy: Missed opportunities from neglect despite talk about big numbers
KQ secures second route to the United Kingdom
US firm, IM Bank to curb illicit cash
Push to review occupational safety and health laws
Blow to Joho family as apex court cancels its KPA tender
Make energy policy to work for the good of Africa's growing population
Standard Group outlines recovery plan after Sh1.5b rights issue nod
According to Wanjira, the family has not been allowed to record a statement since the shooting.
“We have been to Central Police Station, they sent us to DCI homicide but even there we were not allowed to record a statement,” said Wanjira.
On Sunday, the doctors had declared him brain dead with the family raising doubts on their kin’s condition since his admission.
“His condition was not improving since he was put on the life support machine. We feel like they were taking us in circles,” said Kariuki’s uncle.
“He was in the same condition we left him on Sunday,” the father added.
Kariuki was shot on June 17, 2025 while selling face masks in Nairobi’s Central Business District during protests demanding justice for the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody.
The unarmed vendor was reportedly attempting to flee the chaos when he was shot at close range by a police officer — an act the Law Society of Kenya has described as “not only unjustified but premeditated”.
Kariuki was shot amid demonstrations calling for justice and the resignation of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, following Ojwang’s death.
Since then, Kariuki has been in the Intensive Care Unit at KNH.
“I have not gone to work since that incident. I have been coming to KNH everyday day. It has affected us as a family because we raised him since childhood only to be killed by a police officer,” said the father
Since his admission, Kariuki had undergone three major surgeries, including a third procedure on Friday to stabilise his breathing and feeding processes.
Surgeons disclosed that fragments of the ammunition remained lodged in his brain, posing a serious challenge to the medical team.
According to Wanjira, doctors at KNH believe Kariuki may have been shot with a 12-gauge shotgun—a powerful firearm commonly used in hunting, which disperses multiple fragments upon impact.
As of Monday his hospital bill had reached Sh3.6 million.
Doctors reportedly told the family that the remaining fragment could not be extracted immediately, as doing so would pose a significant risk to Kariuki’s life. They advised that removal would only be possible once the wound developed pus.
Meanwhile, the family is struggling with mounting medical bills. Wanjira said the daily cost of care is Sh180,000, and as of yesterday, the total bill had reached Sh3.6 million.
Wanjira confirmed that the family has not received any financial assistance from the government.
“Now that this has happen and the government has been silent, we would like to hear to hear them because we do not have money to clear the bill,” said Wanjira.