Boniface Kariuki, a 29-year-old street vendor who was shot in the head by police during a protest in Nairobi, Kenya has died after nearly two weeks on life support, his family confirmed on Sunday.
“Boniface is no more. We have just viewed his body,” said family spokesperson Emily Wanjira in a somber statement to the BBC. His death comes just days after doctors declared him brain-dead due to bullet fragments lodged in his skull—fragments that surgeries failed to remove.
Kariuki’s shooting on June 17 occurred during demonstrations in Kenya’s capital, sparked by the controversial death in police custody of Albert Ojwang, a teacher and outspoken blogger. Kariuki, who sold masks to earn a living, was reportedly shot at close range by police officers dispersing the crowd.
His final days were spent in Nairobi’s main public hospital, where his family had earlier appealed for donations to help cover mounting medical bills. That plea added to growing public outrage and demands for accountability.
Kariuki’s death now serves as a stark symbol of the rising tensions between Kenyan citizens and the police force. Protests across the country have intensified in recent weeks, fuelled by what many see as unchecked police violence and suppression of dissent. Rights groups say at least 19 people were killed in one day of protest last week alone.
Two police officers connected to Kariuki’s shooting have appeared in court but have not entered pleas. They remain in custody pending further investigation.
Speaking outside the hospital, members of Kariuki’s family called on the authorities to “fast-track investigations” and ensure justice is delivered—not just for Boniface, but for other victims of police brutality.
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While public anger swells, government officials are doubling down on their position. Director of Criminal Investigations Mohamed Amin told reporters that 485 people have been arrested so far, facing charges ranging from terrorism and rape to property destruction and murder.
“No one will hide behind peaceful protest to commit criminal acts,” Amin said, adding that intelligence teams are combing through CCTV footage and mobile phone data to identify additional suspects. He also claimed that at least 11 officers had been seriously injured in the protests, describing some wounds as life-threatening.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen has drawn sharp criticism for remarks urging police to “shoot on sight” anyone attacking stations or officers, calling such actions “terrorism disguised as dissent.”
A System Under Scrutiny
Legal experts and human rights organizations are alarmed by the hardline rhetoric. Amnesty International Kenya and other groups say the government is leaning dangerously toward authoritarian tactics. Critics argue that instead of addressing citizens’ legitimate grievances, authorities are treating public protest as criminal conspiracy.
In a separate but related legal development, a High Court judge has ordered Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja to produce missing blogger Ndiangui Kinyagia, who was allegedly detained by security forces last week and has not been seen since. If the order is not obeyed, Kanja must appear in court to explain his absence.
For many Kenyans, the death of Boniface Kariuki is not just another casualty—it’s a tragic reminder of a nation teetering between democratic aspirations and institutional violence.
