The family of Boniface Kariuki, a 22-year-old face mask vendor shot by police during protests in Nairobi on June 17, has confirmed that he has been declared brain dead.
The young man, who was caught in the chaos while selling masks, was shot in the head at close range—an incident that has since become a flashpoint in Kenya’s debate over police brutality and accountability.
In a heartbreaking press briefing, family spokesperson Emily Wanjiru confirmed the devastating update.
“We received a call at around midnight from the hospital itself; they needed to have a brief with us… The reality of the things that are happening is that Boniface Kariuki is confirmed brain dead,” she said.
Boniface’s father, John Kariuki, gave a tearful account of how he was summoned by doctors in the dead of night.
“I was called by the doctors at around midnight and told to come talk with the medics. We have been told that he is brain dead. We have not been told whether he is gone, but just that he is brain dead, but the heart is still beating,” he said, his voice weighed down by pain and uncertainty.
The family, now shouldering a medical bill exceeding Ksh3 million, is calling on Kenyans and well-wishers to help ease the burden.
“We are calling upon Kenyans to help us in this time—the whole process, justice, and the bills,” John said, noting that while the hospital has not finalised billing, the figures are staggering.
Emily echoed the financial and emotional toll. “The hospital bill now is quite high; we are at over 3 million… We know what it means when someone is brain dead—the brainstem of our child is no longer working,” she said, fighting back tears. “A lot of hopes and promises were made, but none has come through.”
To support the family, a medical bill paybill number 7682551 has been issued. Contributors are requested to use their name as the account and confirm that the recipient name reflects the Boniface Mwangi Kariuki Medical Fund.
The family’s plea is twofold: justice for their son and support to cover the mounting medical costs. “All we are asking is justice for our child,” Emily stated, underscoring the anguish that has gripped the household since the tragedy.
Boniface’s case has sparked national outrage, particularly as video footage circulated showing the moment he was shot, seemingly unprovoked, by a police officer. The footage shows him trying to leave the protest area when he is hit at close range. Two police officers have since been arrested, and rights groups, including Amnesty International Kenya and the Kenya Human Rights Commission, have demanded swift and transparent investigations.
His shooting came amid growing anti-government demonstrations following the death of another protester, Albert Ojwang, in police custody. The growing movement has united citizens across the country under a call for #JusticeForBoniface and a complete overhaul of police conduct in protest situations.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) have promised investigations, but the family—and the nation—are watching closely, demanding action over platitudes.
Boniface’s story has come to symbolize the human cost of state violence. A young vendor trying to make an honest living is now brain dead due to a bullet fired in a moment of unchecked force. His case joins a growing list of lives maimed or lost under circumstances involving security agencies, adding fuel to a national reckoning over justice, equity, and governance.
As Kenya continues to reel from waves of protests and mourning, the call from Boniface’s family cuts to the core: a plea for dignity, justice, and compassion.
