Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, the Nairobi street vendor who was shot at close range during anti-government protests on June 17, has died after nearly two weeks in intensive care.
The 29-year-old hawker, known for selling face masks in the city centre, succumbed to his injuries on Monday at 3:15 p.m., according to his family. He had been hospitalised at Kenyatta National Hospital’s ICU since the day of the protest.
“It is true he passed on more than an hour ago. The family will give you more details,” a hospital official confirmed.
Family spokesperson Emily Wanjira also shared that Kariuki had been declared brain dead over the weekend and had remained on life support since.
Footage Sparks Outrage
Video of the incident, which circulated widely online, shows a man believed to be Kariuki being shot at close range by police on Mondlane Street as officers moved to disperse demonstrators. The footage sparked national outrage and reignited debate over the use of force by law enforcement during public protests.
Two officers caught on video—Klinzy Barasa Masinde and Duncan Kiprono—were arrested on June 18 and remain in custody at Capitol Hill Police Station.
They are under investigation by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and may face murder charges, pending the outcome of forensic and legal reviews.
DCI Seeks More Time
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had earlier applied to detain the officers for an additional 21 days. Investigators say they need time to conduct ballistic tests, review CCTV footage, and gather forensic evidence from the scene.
“We are still waiting for the results from the Government Chemist,” said Corporal Nahshon Zoka from the DCI’s Homicide Bureau. “We also need to record statements from several witnesses.”
Crucially, police had hoped to speak to Kariuki himself before his death. That will no longer be possible, which may complicate the case. But investigators believe the video evidence and witness accounts may be sufficient to move forward.
Another Life Lost, Another Family in Mourning
For Kariuki’s family, the news brings a painful end to nearly two weeks of vigil at the hospital. His death adds to a growing list of casualties from recent protests, many of them young, unarmed, and caught in the crossfire between demonstrators and security forces.
Rights organisations have demanded swift justice, and IPOA has promised transparency in the probe. Meanwhile, demonstrators across Nairobi have called for accountability—not just for the officers involved, but for the system that allows such incidents to occur with grim regularity.
As the country reckons with mounting frustration, Kariuki’s death is likely to further inflame tensions over how police handle dissent on Kenya’s streets.
