NAIROBI — A father’s cry for justice echoed outside Kenyatta National Hospital on Wednesday morning after his son, a 22-year-old hawker, was shot on Tuesday by police during protests in Nairobi’s city centre.
Jonah Kariuki held back tears as he spoke about his son, Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, who is now in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit. Boniface was shot near Imenti House on Tuesday as demonstrators gathered to protest police brutality.
“He’s my only son. The pride of this family,” said Kariuki. “I raised him through hardship. Now he’s lying in hospital with a bullet in his head. All I ask is for justice. Why do police shoot people who aren’t fighting them?”
Boniface, who sells face masks on Nairobi’s streets to support his family, was reportedly not armed and not part of the protest. Witnesses say the officer fired directly into the crowd without provocation.
“He was going about his business,” said a fellow hawker who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals. “Then the officer just pointed and shot. It happened so fast.”
The protest, which turned chaotic near Moi Avenue, was sparked by public outrage over the death of another young man, Albert Ojwang’, who also died in unclear circumstances involving police.
Critical but Stable
Kenya’s Director General for Health, Dr Patrick Amoth, confirmed on Tuesday night that Boniface had been rushed into surgery with a neurosurgical team.
“As we speak, the patient is in theatre,” said Dr Amoth. “An ICU bed has been prepared as his condition requires close post-surgical care.”
On Wednesday morning, Kariuki was joined at the hospital by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who demanded accountability for police violence.
“I came here to see the boy but was informed he’s in ICU,” said Omtatah. “He is alive, yes, but fighting for his life. We must not normalise this kind of violence.”
Omtatah said parliament must demand answers and insisted that the officer involved be identified and held accountable.
The Broader Question
This shooting has reignited a wider conversation in Kenya about the use of force by police, especially during public gatherings.
Human rights organisations have long warned about the pattern of excessive and sometimes fatal force used by police officers. Amnesty International Kenya said on Wednesday it was monitoring Boniface’s case closely and called for an independent investigation.
“Every Kenyan has the right to safety even when protesting,” the group said in a statement.
Nairobi police officials have yet to issue a public comment, and no officers have been arrested or suspended in connection with the shooting.
A Father’s Plea
Standing outside the hospital’s emergency wing, Kariuki said the family was still in shock.
“He’s a good boy. He doesn’t do drugs, he doesn’t steal. He just works hard selling masks so we can eat,” he said quietly.
“I don’t want to bury my son. I want him to walk out of here alive. And I want someone to answer for what happened.”
This is a developing story. Updates will follow as more information becomes available.
