Hillary Wa Mwangi, the uncle of the late mask hawker who died this evening, explained in painful detail how the family confirmed Boniface Kariuki’s death at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where he had been on life support after being shot in the head by police during the June 25 anti-police brutality protests.
“Lazima tungeenda pale to confirm ameenda ndio wazime zile machine zao ili apelekwe mortuary,” Mwangi told Citizen Digital, recalling the heart-wrenching moment the family gave KNH the go-ahead to switch off the machines. “It was the only way we could allow him to rest. We had no choice.”
The family was called into the hospital at 3.15 p.m. and informed of Kariuki’s passing a day after doctors had already declared him brain dead. He had been under intensive care for days and had undergone two major surgeries to remove bullet fragments, some of which remained lodged in his skull.
Now left with sorrow and a Sh3.6 million hospital bill, the family says they feel abandoned by the very systems meant to protect them. “Hakuna mtu wa serikali ameongea na familia kunena mambo ya bill,” Mwangi noted, adding that every coin spent has come from well-wishers and ordinary Kenyans.
Photo of the late face mask hawker Boniface Mwangi before shooting
At the heart of the family’s grief is a call for justice. Boniface, a simple hawker trying to make ends meet in Nairobi’s CBD, became an unexpected symbol of the Gen Z protests after being shot by police while selling face masks.
As KNH prepares to release the body to the mortuary, the family is urging the government and judicial system to step in not only to help settle the ballooning medical costs but also to ensure those responsible are held to account.
The silence from authorities, according to Mwangi, is louder than words. “Pale tumefika ni kusaidiwa na Wakenya,” he said, breaking into tears. “But we won’t stop until there is justice.”