Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, the 22-year-old mask vendor who was shot at point-blank range by a police officer during recent anti-police brutality protests, has been confirmed brain dead, according to his family.
Speaking to the press outside Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) on Sunday, family spokesperson Emily Wanjira revealed that although Kariuki’s organs remain functional, his brain has completely ceased functioning.
“The reality is that Boniface Mwangi Kariuki has been confirmed brain dead,” Wanjira stated.
“For someone to be officially declared dead, the heartbeat must stop. His heart is still beating. We have left it to the doctors to confirm when he is officially gone.”
Kariuki was shot on June 17, 2025, while selling masks in Nairobi’s Central Business District during protests demanding justice for the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody.
The unarmed vendor was reportedly attempting to flee the chaos when he was shot at close range by a police officer, an act the Law Society of Kenya described as “not only unjustified but premeditated.”
Since the shooting, Kariuki has been admitted to the ICU at KNH and has undergone three major surgeries. On Friday, a third procedure was carried out to stabilise his breathing and feeding processes.
While earlier reports indicated the bullet had been removed, surgeons later disclosed that fragments of the ammunition remained lodged in his brain, complicating medical efforts.
Wanjira revealed that doctors suspect Kariuki was shot with a 12-gauge shotgun — a powerful hunting firearm that disperses multiple fragments on impact.
“The first two fragments were removed; the third remains,” she explained.
Doctors informed the family that the final fragment could not be extracted immediately due to the high risk. They advised that removal would only be possible once the wound develops pus.
Kariuki’s father, Jonah Kariuki, said the hospital contacted the family on Sunday for a status update. The family has been informed that, as per Kenyan law, doctors cannot switch off life support and must wait for nature to take its course.
“He is still on life support, but we’ve now been informed he is brain dead. Since Kenyan law doesn’t permit switching off the machine, we have been told to wait and see what fate decides,” said Wanjira.
The family is currently grappling with escalating medical expenses, with a daily cost of Sh180,000 and a cumulative bill of Sh3.3 million.
“We are now relying on well-wishers. Many of the promises we were given have not materialised,” Wanjira added.
“We are asking for help from Kenyans to assist us in clearing the bill,” Kariuki’s father appealed.
The family confirmed that no financial or official support has been received from the government.
“We have not received any communication or support from the government so far. We are still hoping to hear from them — the same way we were hoping he would wake up,” Wanjira concluded.
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