Police officers physically attacked Boniface Kariuki before one of them opened fire on him during the June 17, 2025, protests in Nairobi. (Photo: EPA)
By Newsflash Writer
Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, a Nairobi hawker who sustained a gunshot wound at close range during the June 17 protests, has died.
Family spokesperson Emily Wanjira confirmed that Kariuki passed away on Monday at 3:15 p.m. He had remained in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) since the day of the incident.
A hospital official also affirmed the death, saying, “It is true he passed on more than an hour ago. The family will give you more details.”
On Sunday, Wanjira had revealed that the family received a call from KNH at midnight on Saturday, informing them that Kariuki had been declared brain dead. He had been kept alive on a life-support machine.
Two police officers captured on camera during the incident are currently in custody as investigations continue.
The officers—Klinzy Barasa Masinde and Duncan Kiprono—were detained on June 19 at Capitol Hill Police Station, where they are being held for 15 days pending investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). Authorities say they could face murder charges.
DCI applies for additional days
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) had applied for an additional 21 days to wrap up inquiries into the case.
The officers are accused of shooting Kariuki on June 17 along Mondlane Street as security forces dispersed demonstrators.
Read more: Two police officers arrested over shooting of hawker in Nairobi
According to Corporal Nahshon Zoka of the DCI’s Homicide Bureau, good Samaritans rushed the injured hawker to KNH, where he underwent surgery before being admitted to the ICU in critical condition.
DCI detectives arrested the two officers on June 18 and booked them at Capitol Hill Police Station.
The DCI, in its request for extended detention, said the additional time was needed for ballistic tests on the officers’ weapons, forensic examination of CCTV footage, chemical analysis of samples from the scene by the Government Chemist, and the collection of witness statements. They also cited the need to await a possible statement from the victim, who at the time was still unable to speak.
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