Wamuzi News Ke
An explosive new autopsy report has shed light on the shocking killing of 22‑year‑old mask vendor Boniface Kariuki during the protests that shook Nairobi in mid‑June. The solemn findings deliver a devastating verdict: Kariuki died from a massive head injury caused by a gunshot fired at point‑blank range.
Conducted at Kenyatta National Hospital on Thursday, the post‑mortem revealed that a single bullet tore through Kariuki’s brain, leaving four metal fragments embedded deep within. Doctors had removed two during emergency surgery, but the additional fragments remained lethal.
According to Government Pathologist Dr Peter Ndegwa, Kariuki’s chance of survival was hopeless from the outset. “The brain was extensively damaged,” he concluded, stating the remaining fragments made it impossible to recover.
A video that captured the chilling moment shows a police officer shooting Kariuki at close distance—an image now validated by the autopsy as corresponding exactly with the fatal wound.
Kariuki was shot on 17 June along Tom Mboya Street while selling face masks amid protests sparked over the suspicious death in police custody of blogger Albert Ojwang. His family reported he was declared brain‑dead before he succumbed to his injuries on 30 June after two weeks under intensive care.
His father, Jonah Kariuki, confirmed his passing at 3:15 pm, marking the end of a life tragically cut short by police violence.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) attended the autopsy alongside the family and will submit findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Meanwhile, the legal status of the officers involved continues to shift, with charges upgraded from grievous harm to murder.
Family spokesperson Emily Wanjira voiced their grief and outrage, describing the discovery of hidden fragments as “a shock to us” and reiterated the intention to press for full accountability.
In a gesture of official response, President William Ruto has donated Ksh 1 million towards Kariuki’s burial, scheduled for 11 July in Kangema, while the government has also waived outstanding medical bills.
Kariuki’s death, along with that of Ojwang and at least 19 others wounded or killed during protests that swept parts of Nairobi and Mombasa, has intensified scrutiny over police conduct. Observers point to orders from Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen urging officers to “shoot on sight” — a directive the Kenya Law Society has branded “illegal”.
What’s next?
- Final prosecutions under murder charges remain pending.
- IPOA will forward the full post‑mortem report to the DPP.
- Public pressure grows for reform following this and earlier cases of state violence.
As the nation mourns and rallies for justice, Kariuki’s killing stands as a stark indicator of the escalating tensions between protestors and police. With his family, legal authorities, and civilian groups united, all eyes now turn to Nairobi’s courts on whether this autopsy marks the beginning of genuine accountability—or another lost opportunity for justice.
