The autopsy of Boniface Kariuki, a young mask vendor fatally injured during the recent Gen Z protests in Nairobi, has laid bare the brutal circumstances surrounding his death.
Pathologist Bernard Midia and family pathologist Dr Peter Ndegwa, who conducted the postmortem examination, confirmed that Kariuki was shot at close range, with the bullet causing a severe head injury that proved fatal.
“We have come to the conclusion that the cause of death was a severe head injury due to a single gunshot. The brain is quite disturbed, and the chances of survival were minimal,” Dr Ndegwa said.
The examination further revealed the presence of six bullet fragments lodged in Kariuki’s brain. Four were retrieved during the autopsy, while two had been surgically removed earlier, when Kariuki was still alive.
The findings have left the family devastated. “Actually, it is a shock for us, as they have removed four more fragments because previously, two fragments had been removed by the surgeon,” said family spokesperson Emily Wanjira.
She added that while the family had been informed of the two fragments initially, they later learned that other bullet remnants had remained in Kariuki’s brain, but doctors could not extract them without risking his life.
The grim autopsy details have amplified public outrage, with Kariuki’s death becoming a powerful symbol in the ongoing outcry against police brutality.
Two police officers involved in the incident, caught on camera, are in custody as police investigate the matter.
Klinzy Barasa Masinde and Duncan Kiprono were detained on June 19, 2025, at the Capitol Hill police station for 15 days pending investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
The officers shot Boniface Mwangi Kariuki on June 17, 2025, along Mondlane Street, as police dispersed demonstrators.
He was rushed by Samaritans to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where he underwent surgery and was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in critical condition.
The DCI arrested the officers on June 18, 2025, and booked them at the Capitol Hill Police Station.
The findings not only confirm the cause of death but also highlight the extent of the force used during the protests, renewing calls for accountability and sweeping reforms within law enforcement agencies.
