Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, a 22-year-old mask vendor shot during Gen Z-led protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District, has died at Kenyatta National Hospital. Doctors first declared him brain-dead on Sunday morning, but his heart was kept beating through life support until he passed away on Monday following 12 critical days in intensive care.
Kariuki sustained a critical head injury on June 17 when police reportedly shot him at close range as he tried to flee the demonstrations sparked by the killing of teacher-blogger Albert Ojwang. His family confirmed he was an innocent bystander, working to make a living, not participating in the protests.
Surgeons conducted three major operations, successfully removing some bullet fragments from his skull. However, they could not extract all remnants without risking fatal complications. The medical team noted the ammunition resembled a rubber bullet, pending laboratory confirmation.
The financial burden on his family was enormous. Treatment costs ran to approximately Sh180,000 per day, totaling around Sh3.3 million. In response, the government waived a portion of the bill over Sh800,000, using an emergency hospital fund.
Police later arrested two officers in connection with the shooting. They face possible murder charges, their firearms are undergoing forensic testing, and a formal investigation is underway by oversight authorities.
Human-rights advocates and the Law Society of Kenya condemned the incident, saying it highlights ongoing concerns about excessive force by police during peaceful demonstrations.
Nairobi’s governor called for an independent inquiry and accountability for those responsible. Meanwhile, Kenyans have laid flowers and masks at the shooting site and held peaceful memorials to honour Kariuki’s memory.
His father described him as a hard-working young man caught in violence not of his own making. He urged law enforcement officials to conduct themselves with integrity and demanded justice for his son and other innocent civilians affected during protests.
