The Ministry of Health has officially announced the waiver of all medical bills for individuals injured during the June 17 and June 25 anti-government protests, a move seen as a major relief for affected families.
The directive, issued on Monday, June 30, 2025, was signed by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and applies specifically to protest victims treated at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), including the late Boniface Kariuki, whose hospital bill had reached Ksh815,805 by the time of his death.
“We remain committed to ensuring they receive the care and support they need,” CS Duale said in the statement, adding that the bills will now be covered by the hospital’s Disaster Emergency Fund.
Boniface Kariuki, a 22-year-old mask vendor, was shot in the head by police during the June 25 demonstrations in Nairobi.
He was unarmed and not participating in the protests but was caught in the chaos while working in the central business district. His death on June 30, after two weeks on life support, sparked public outrage and became a symbol of police excesses during the Gen Z-led protests.
Kariuki’s family appeal
The Ministry’s announcement comes after Boniface’s father, Jonah Kariuki, made a public appeal for help, saying the family was not only grieving but also facing financial despair. “We as the family are calling for help, from getting him out of the hospital to giving him a decent burial,” he had said.
The family had reported that no government agency had reached out to assist them with the pending medical bill until the waiver was announced.
In the statement, the Ministry also extended condolences to families who lost loved ones and affirmed its support for those still recovering. “We offer our deepest condolences to families who have lost loved ones and extend our support to all those still recovering,” read the communication.
The waiver covers all patients injured during the protests, not just Kariuki, and signals a broader government acknowledgement of the cost borne by victims and their families.
Civil society groups and Kenyans online have welcomed the move but continue to call for accountability over the excessive force used during the demonstrations.
