NAIROBI, Kenya— Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, the 22-year-old mask vendor who was shot at point-blank range during the “Justice for Albert Ojwang” protests, has been declared brain dead, his family confirmed Sunday, bringing a heart-wrenching chapter of the Gen Z protest movement to a critical juncture.
Speaking outside Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), family spokesperson Emily Wanjira said doctors delivered the devastating news just after midnight.
Kariuki’s story has become a powerful symbol of alleged police brutality in Kenya.
On June 17, he was captured on video being shot in the head by a police officer around Imenti House. The footage, which quickly went viral, showed two officers confronting him before one fired at close range, leaving him unconscious on the pavement.
Since then, Kariuki has undergone three surgeries at KNH’s ICU.
Doctors removed what they suspect to be a rubber bullet from his skull, though final forensic results are still pending.
Despite their efforts, bullet fragments remain lodged in his brain. His condition deteriorated last week, and with no signs of brain activity, the prognosis is grim.
“He had a breathing tube moved from his nose to the throat on Friday, and they performed a pegging procedure so he could be fed through the stomach,” Wanjira added. “But doctors say there’s nothing more they can do neurologically.”
Kariuki’s family is now staring at a Sh3 million hospital bill—and the unimaginable emotional weight of knowing their son’s heart is beating only because of machines.
His father, Jonah Kariuki, could barely hide his pain: “My son’s brain is no longer functioning, but his heart keeps going. We need help. Financially and emotionally.”
The family has also endured an added betrayal. In their desperation, they were conned out of Sh200,000 by someone who promised to “help” with Kariuki’s treatment logistics.
As calls for police accountability grow louder, human rights watchdogs are placing Kariuki’s name on a growing list of victims of police violence.
Kariuki’s shooting has become a chilling emblem of what protesters claim is a larger pattern of state violence.
What began as a rallying cry for justice after influencer Albert Ojwang died in police custody has morphed into a nationwide reckoning with systemic abuse.
Doctors at KNH say legal restrictions prevent them from switching off Kariuki’s life support without due process.
In the meantime, his family is appealing to well-wishers, hoping to clear the bill and prepare for what they fear is the inevitable.
