NAIROBI — Boniface Kariuki, the 22-year-old mask vendor shot at close range in the head by police during protests in Nairobi, has died. He was pronounced dead at 3:15 p.m. Monday at Kenyatta National Hospital, according to family spokesperson Emily Wanjira.
Kariuki had been admitted to the ICU on June 17 after being shot at close range during a protest on Tom Mboya Street. The demonstration was part of nationwide rallies demanding justice for Albert Ojwang, a content creator who died in police custody earlier that week.
A widely circulated video captured two uniformed officers confronting Kariuki. One officer aimed and fired a projectile into his head from close range. Kariuki collapsed immediately. Witnesses rushed him to KNH, where he underwent multiple emergency surgeries.
Doctors removed a bullet-like object from his brain. Preliminary findings suggested it may have been a rubber bullet. However, Kenyatta National Hospital CEO Dr. William Sigilai stated that the object was still under forensic investigation. Despite surgical efforts, fragments remained lodged in his brain, and doctors later found no signs of brain activity.
“He had surgery again on Friday to move the breathing tube from his nose to his throat,” said Emily Wanjira, a family representative. “They also placed a feeding tube in his stomach since he could no longer swallow.”
Wanjira confirmed that doctors officially declared Kariuki brain dead on Sunday. “They called us just after midnight. They told us his brain had stopped functioning, though his heart was still beating with machine support,” she said. “By Monday afternoon, he passed away.”
The family reported that Kariuki’s hospital bill had surpassed KSh3 million. They also said they were scammed of KSh200,000 by an individual who promised help with his treatment.
Jonah Kariuki, Boniface’s father, expressed sorrow and anger. “My son’s brain was gone, but we couldn’t even make the decision to switch off the machines. We’ve lost him, but what we need now is justice,” he said.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has yet to issue a conclusive statement on the incident. Calls for accountability continue to rise.
Kariuki’s name has since been added to the growing list of victims of police violence during the ongoing youth-led protests. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have documented at least 16 deaths and over 400 injuries linked to police actions during the demonstrations.
Activists accuse law enforcement of using excessive force and demand reforms within the National Police Service. Protesters have specifically called for the resignation of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, citing his failure to curb brutality.
Demonstrations erupted in mid-June following the death of Ojwang, who was arrested under unclear circumstances. His family reported signs of torture on his body. Since then, protests have expanded, with young people across Kenya demanding accountability, justice, and systemic change.
Kariuki had sold face masks near Tom Mboya Street for years. His killing has come to symbolize the rising toll of state violence during public demonstrations.
Authorities have yet to arrest or publicly identify the officer involved in the shooting.
