- Bonface Kariuki, 29, has died two weeks after being shot by police during protests in Nairobi.
- His family says he had been on life support after suffering severe brain damage.
- Two officers are in custody as investigations move from attempted to possible murder.
- The case has sparked public anger and renewed pressure on police accountability.
Bonface Mwangi Kariuki, the young hawker shot during the June 17 protests against the Finance Bill, has succumbed to his injuries. He passed away on Monday afternoon while in intensive care at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Emily Wanjira, who spoke on behalf of the family, said doctors had told them Kariuki’s brain stem had stopped functioning. “He had no response at all and had been on machines ever since,” she shared, her voice heavy with sadness.
A staff member at KNH confirmed the news, saying Kariuki had passed more than an hour earlier. They added that the hospital would leave it to the family to release more details publicly.
The moment Kariuki was shot was caught on video and quickly spread online. In the clip, two officers are seen approaching him before one fires at close range. It happened on Mondlane Street in the CBD as police broke up protesters.
Officers Klinzy Barasa Masinde and Duncan Kiprono were arrested the next day. They’re being held as investigations continue, and a court has allowed their detention for 15 days. The case is being handled by IPOA and the DCI.
Since the shooting, investigators have been testing the officers’ weapons, reviewing CCTV footage, and gathering witness accounts. Kariuki, sadly, never recovered enough to tell his side of the story.
With Kariuki now gone, what began as an attempted murder probe could turn into a full murder trial. This development piles even more pressure on IPOA and the DCI to deliver justice.
The killing has reignited questions around police conduct during protests. Former Chief Justice David Maraga and several rights groups have strongly condemned the act, calling it a shocking use of force on a peaceful protester.
