The touching narrative surrounding Boniface Kariuki, the young mask vendor who captured the nation's attention after being shot during recent protests in Nairobi, has reached a tragic and final conclusion. His family confirmed today, at 3:15 PM, that Boniface Kariuki has succumbed to his injuries, two weeks after the harrowing incident. This heartbreaking news deepens the collective grief and galvanizes an already fervent demand for justice and accountability in Kenya.
Family spokesperson Emily Wanjira, her voice heavy with sorrow, relayed the devastating news to The Standard, confirming, "We will now have to get the total bill because we have been told he is no more." This statement underscores not only the profound emotional toll on the family but also the immense financial burden they have been shouldering.
Boniface Kariuki’s passing comes just a day after doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) had declared him brain dead. On Sunday, Ms. Wanjira had revealed the grim update from the hospital: “We were called to come here at midnight. When we got here, they told us that he is now braindead but there is still a pulse. They cannot turn off the life support machine because of legal issues." For two weeks, the 22-year-old, who was reportedly hawking masks before he was shot, lay in critical condition, a stark symbol of the violence that erupted during the 'Justice for Albert Ojwang' protests.
The protests, which led to Boniface’s fatal injury, were sparked by the death of blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang, 31, who was found dead while in police custody. Boniface Kariuki became an unintended casualty when police cracked down on the demonstration in the capital. He was shot at close range, an incident that was widely condemned and drew immediate public scrutiny to the conduct of law enforcement.
Throughout his two-week ordeal, the Kariuki family faced not only the agony of his critical condition but also a mounting financial crisis, with hospital bills having already climbed to over Sh3 million. This substantial sum highlighted the dire circumstances many families face when confronted with such unexpected and severe medical emergencies, especially in cases of alleged police brutality.
