Nairobi hawker shot at close range by police declared brain dead
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Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, 22, was shot at close range by police during Nairobi protests and has been declared brain dead, sparking widespread condemnation.
Nairobi Hawker Shot by Police During Protest Declared Brain Dead
Family says 22-year-old Boniface Kariuki’s brainstem no longer functioning after close-range shooting
The family of Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, a 22-year-old hawker shot in the head at close range by a police officer during anti-government protests in Nairobi, has confirmed that he has been declared brain dead.
Doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital informed the family on Sunday, noting that Kariuki’s brainstem had ceased functioning, making recovery impossible.
Family Devastated by Hospital Update
“We received a call from the hospital at 12:47 a.m. saying they needed to brief us,” said Emily Wanjira, the family spokesperson. “The reality of things is that Boniface is brain-dead. His brainstem is no longer functioning.”
According to Wanjira, the hospital bill has now surpassed Ksh3 million, and the family is appealing to well-wishers for help.
“When someone is declared brain dead, we know what it means… We are hoping for prayers and financial support,” she added.
Shot While Carrying Face Masks
Kariuki, who earned his living selling face masks on the streets, was caught up in Tuesday’s protest in Nairobi following public outrage over the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, who died while in police custody at the Central Police Station.
Eyewitnesses say Kariuki was walking away from police officers when one of them, whose face was concealed, fired a close-range shot that struck him in the head.
Footage and images from the scene quickly circulated online, fueling further public anger over police brutality and use of lethal force during protests.
A Growing Outcry Over Police Violence
Tuesday’s protests were part of a broader movement in Kenya over alleged police abuses, especially against young men from low-income backgrounds.
The death of Albert Ojwang, a detained blogger whose body was discovered under suspicious circumstances, sparked fresh outrage and calls for a full investigation into deaths in police custody.
Human rights organizations have called for accountability, demanding that officers involved in Kariuki’s shooting and Ojwang’s death face criminal prosecution.
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