Justice for Boniface Kariuki: Family and Kenyans Demand Answers After Police Shooting Leaves Him Brain Dead
Kenya is once again grappling with the painful reality of police brutality after the tragic shooting of Boniface Kariuki, a 22-year-old mask vendor in Nairobi’s CBD. What began as a day of protests over the suspicious death of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody has now spiraled into an even deeper tragedy.
Shot at Close Range for Selling Face Masks
On Tuesday, as hundreds demonstrated in the capital demanding justice for Ojwang, Boniface a young hawker like his father was holding a packet of face masks on Moi Avenue when he was shot at point-blank range by a police officer whose face was covered with a mask. CCTV and witness videos captured the horrific moment he was gunned down while walking away, posing no threat.
Initially, his father, Jonah Kariuki, told reporters that the bullet had passed through Boniface’s head just above the ear and that surgery to remove fragments had been “successful” as his heart was still beating. But a grim medical report released by Dr. Lucy Shiloh later confirmed the worst: the bullet lodged deep inside his cranial cavity caused irreversible brain damage. Boniface remains in a coma with no sign of consciousness, diagnosed with brain death, a condition deemed medically irreversible.
His family, devastated, now faces a crushing medical bill of Ksh 1 million while clinging to hope for justice.
Outrage Grows Over Police Brutality
The National Police Service confirmed that two officers, Klinzy Barasa and Duncan Kiprono have been arrested and are under investigation. Kenyans online and on the streets are demanding that the officer who pulled the trigger face individual responsibility for what activists have condemned as an extrajudicial act.
His mother, Susan Njeri, heartbroken, said, “If they saw him with a stone or a baton, it would make sense to shoot him. But none of this makes sense. It was not a confrontation. He was just hustling.”
Activist and politician Okiya Omtatah has also demanded answers about why police concealed their faces during an operation meant to control protests.
Meanwhile, the protests sparked by Ojwang’s suspicious death, he allegedly “hit his head on a cell wall,” according to police continue to raise urgent questions about Kenya’s record of extrajudicial killings and the government’s promise to end them.
The UK Embassy in Kenya, Amnesty International, and Kenya’s own judiciary have all called for swift, independent, and transparent investigations into both cases.
A Call for Justice, Dignity & Support
From Murang’a to Nairobi, Kenyans are asking: When will police killings stop? Who protects the innocent hustler?
Boniface’s story is a heartbreaking reminder that police brutality in Kenya must end. His family deserves justice, dignity, and financial support.
👉 If you wish to stand with the Kariuki family, contribute to verified funds or spread awareness using hashtags like #JusticeForBonifaceKariuki, #EndPoliceBrutality, and #StopKillerCops.