Mask Hawker Boniface Kariuki Shot By Police Dies

Boniface Kariuki, a mask vendor who was shot by a police officer during the Tuesday, June 17 protests, has died.

According to a statement from family spokesperson Emily Wanjira, Kariuki passed away at approximately 3:15 p.m., two weeks after the incident.

He had been receiving treatment following the shooting, which occurred in the midst of a demonstration that saw several confrontations between protesters and security forces.

This development comes a day after Kariuki was declared brain dead. Addressing the media at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) on Sunday, June 29, Kariuki’s family said doctors had informed them that his brain had ceased to function.

"Mwangi is confirmed brain dead. We know what it means. We are just waiting for the doctor to tell us he is no more," Wanjira said.

"We received a call from the hospital at 12.47 am saying that they needed to have a brief with us, and we have been told what is happening."

However, the family said that the life support machine Kariuki was on could not be switched off due to legal issues.

The family further stated that additional bullet fragments remained in Kariuki’s brain and were yet to be removed.

Kariuki, prior to his death, had undergone two surgeries at KNH to extract the bullet lodged in his head and had been recovering in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) under constant monitoring.

Beforehand, his father, Jonah Kariuki, disclosed that the hospital bill had already reached Ksh 1 million and was growing by the day.

"The reality of things is that Boniface Mwangi Kariuki is declared brain-dead. The hospital bill is now higher than Ksh3 million. We are praying and hoping for the well-wishers because when someone is declared brain dead, we know what it means, so the brainstem of Boniface Mwangi Kariuki is not working any longer," Wanjira continued.

Providing an update on protest-related casualties the following day, Kenyatta National Hospital CEO Dr. William Sigilai confirmed that the mask vendor had already undergone surgery to remove a bullet-like object from his brain.

While further forensic analysis was pending, Sigilai suggested the object could potentially be a rubber bullet.

As Kenyans demonstrated for justice for Albert Ojwang, who died in a police cell, two police officers were caught on camera harassing Kariuki before one of them shot him at close range, leaving him unconscious.

The two officers involved — Constables Klinzy Barasa Masinde and Duncan Kiprono — were arrested immediately and interdicted.

They were arraigned at Milimani Law Courts on Thursday, June 19, to face charges related to the shooting, and current developments put them likely to be charged with murder.