Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, the 22-year-old mask vendor who was shot in Nairobi CBD during anti-government protests on Tuesday, June 17, has been confirmed brain-dead.
The family made the announcement on Sunday, June 29, following a briefing with doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital, where Boniface has been receiving medical care since the shooting incident.
“We received a call from the hospital at 12:47 a.m. saying that they needed to have a brief with us, and we have been told what is happening,” the family spokesperson said.
The family further noted that Boniface's hospital bill has ballooned to over Ksh3 million, calling on well-wishers to chip in and help settle it.
"The reality of things is that Boniface Mwangi Kariuki is declared brain-dead. The hospital bill is now higher than Ksh3 million. We are praying and hoping for the well-wishers because when someone is declared brain dead, we know what it means, so the brainstem of Boniface Mwangi Kariuki is not working any longer,” the family added.
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Brain dead means that a person has permanently lost all brain function, including activity in the brainstem, which controls basic life functions such as breathing, heartbeat regulation, and consciousness.
Even if machines keep the person's heart beating and lungs working, the body cannot function on its own, and there is no chance of recovery.
In the case of Boniface, this means that although machines may still be keeping his body alive, his brain has stopped functioning permanently.
Boniface was shot in the head at close range while hawking masks in Nairobi CBD during protests over the murder of Albert Ojwang in police custody.
The National Police Service (NPS) later publicly disclosed the identities of the two police officers who were arrested in connection with the shooting.
In a statement on Wednesday, June 18, the NPS confirmed the officers’ names as Police Constable Klinzy Barasa Masinde (No. 119413) and Police Constable Duncan Kiprono (No. 117193).
"The two officers have now been interdicted and are currently being processed by the Homicide Team, DCI Headquarters, pending further action," the NPS stated.
The High Court later ordered the detention of the two officers for 15 days.
The ruling was issued on Thursday, June 19, following the arraignment of the two officers at Milimani High Court over the shooting of Boniface Kariuki, a mask vendor in the CBD.
Following the ruling, the duo will be held at the Capitol Hill Police Station.
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