Shot Nairobi Hawker Boniface Kariuki Dies
Nairobi, Kenya – Kenya is in mourning once again as Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, a 27-year-old hawker and father of one, has succumbed to injuries after being shot in the head by police during the anti-finance bill protests on June 17. His death at 3:15 pm on Monday, June 30, triggered emotional reactions across the country.
Kariuki had been fighting for his life in the ICU at Kenyatta National Hospital for nearly two weeks. However, his condition deteriorated, and he was declared brain dead Sunday night before passing away Monday afternoon.
“I want justice for my son,” his father Jonah Kariuki told reporters through tears.
“My son did nothing wrong. He was my only hope and only son. The rest are daughters.”
The family’s grief has been worsened by a hospital bill exceeding Ksh3.5 million. Sadly, no government agency has stepped forward to assist with the financial burden.
“All I can say is that we have a tough task ahead,” Jonah added.
“Getting him out of there [the mortuary] is hard because we do not have money. We are seeking help from Kenyans.”
Tragically, Kariuki’s death comes just after the family had publicly disclosed his brainstem was no longer functioning. However, legal protocols in Kenya required that life support could only be withdrawn after his heart stopped.
Caught on Camera, Shot at Close Range
During the June 17 protests, Kariuki, who was selling face masks in Nairobi, was filmed being brutally beaten by two police officers. One officer then shot him point-blank in the head. The disturbing footage went viral, sparking massive public outrage and renewed calls to end police brutality in Kenya.
He was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital by fellow protesters, where doctors performed an emergency surgery and extracted a bullet lodged in his skull. But the damage was already done.
Police Defend Actions Amid Uproar
Speaking just hours before Kariuki’s death, former police spokesperson Charles Owino attempted to explain the officer’s behavior.
“It was a very simple exchange,” he claimed.
“If you listen closely, you will hear the boy abusing the policeman. But as an officer, you must have restraint—and shoot him with a rubber bullet, not a live one.”
Owino went further to say:
“The officer who shot him, Klinzy Baraza Masinde, was a young recruit—less than two years in service. He took the insults too personally and reacted poorly.”
The two officers were arrested and arraigned at Milimani Law Courts on June 19. The court granted IPOA and the DPP’s office 15 days to investigate further.
Nation Demands Answers
The death of Kariuki has intensified national frustration over unchecked police violence, especially against unarmed civilians. Human rights groups have vowed to hold the state accountable, calling for justice and police reform.
“This wasn’t just a shooting,” a protester shouted outside the hospital.
“This was murder. And it cannot go unpunished.”ALSO READ: June 25 Gen Z Protests Turn Deadly: 8 Confirmed Dead, Over 100 Injured Across Kenya
Shot Nairobi Hawker Boniface Kariuki Dies
