A Nairobi mask vendor, critically injured during Tuesday’s protests, is currently undergoing emergency neurosurgical intervention. Health authorities have confirmed that an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed has been prepared, anticipating the need for specialized post-operative care.
The vendor – later identified as Boniface Kariuki – was shot point-blank by an anti-riot officer, triggering calls for his arrest and prosecution.
He was initially presumed not to have made it, but Dr. Patrick Amoth, Director General for Health, confirmed on Tuesday that the patient is in the operating theatre with a dedicated neurosurgical team. “As we speak, the patient is in theatre with the neurosurgical team,” Dr. Amoth stated, adding, “As a precaution, we have prepared an ICU bed because a case of such nature requires ICU support immediately in the post-surgery period.”
The shooting occurred during demonstrations in the Nairobi CBD that escalated into chaotic confrontations between protestors and police. These protests are closely linked to increasing demands for accountability following the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died under mysterious circumstances while in police custody.
While medical authorities have not yet disclosed the full extent of the hawker’s injuries, the involvement of neurosurgeons and the proactive preparation of an ICU bed underscore the severity of his condition. Further updates on his recovery are expected once the surgery is successfully completed.
