Masks seller shot by police during protests is brain dead, doctors says

John Kariuki and Susan Njeri Kariuki, the parents of Boniface Kariuki, the hawker who was shot by police, address a press briefing at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, on June 21, 2025. [David Gichuru,Standard]

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 the family's spokesperson, Emily Wanjira, doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) informed the family that while Kariuki's body organs remain functional, his brain has completely ceased functioning.

"The reality is that Boniface Mwangi Kariuki has been confirmed brain dead," Wanjira said during a press briefing outside the hospital on Sunday.

"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," she added.

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 has described as "not only unjustified but premeditated".

Kariuki was shot amid demonstrations calling for justice and the resignation of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, following Ojwang's death.

Since then, Kariuki has been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at KNH.

"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.

Kariuki's father, Jonah Kariuki, said the hospital contacted the family on Sunday, requesting them to come in for a status update.

Since his admission, Kariuki has undergone three major surgeries, including a third procedure on Friday to stabilise his breathing and feeding processes.

While earlier reports indicated that the bullet had been removed, surgeons later disclosed that fragments of the ammunition remained lodged in his brain, posing a serious challenge to the medical team.

According to Wanjira, doctors at KNH believe Kariuki may have been shot with a 12-gauge shotgun-a powerful firearm commonly used in hunting, which disperses multiple fragments upon impact.

"The first two fragments were removed; the third remains," she said.

Doctors reportedly told the family that the remaining fragment could not be extracted immediately, as doing so would pose a significant risk to Kariuki's life. They advised that removal would only be possible once the wound developed pus.

Meanwhile, the family is struggling with mounting medical bills. Wanjira said the daily cost of care is Sh180,000, and as of yesterday, the total bill had reached Sh3.3 million.

"We are now relying on well-wishers. Many of the promises we were given have not materialised," Wanjira said.

Kariuki's father also appealed for public support: "We are asking for help from Kenyans to assist us in clearing the bill."

Wanjira confirmed that the family has not received any financial assistance 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," she said.