Boniface Mwangi
John Kariuki, the father of Boniface Kariuki — a street vendor who was shot at close range by a police officer during Tuesday’s protests in Nairobi — has confirmed that his son is alive and undergoing treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital. Boniface, who earns a living selling face masks in the CBD, was shot in the head, with the bullet passing just above his ear.
The shooting happened during protests demanding justice for the late teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang, who died under unclear circumstances while in police custody at Central Police Station. In widely circulated videos, Boniface is seen standing on the sidewalk when two officers approach him before one opens fire.
The two officers involved in the incident, Masinde Barasa and Duncan Kiprono, who were captured on camera assaulting and shooting Boniface, are set to be arraigned in court today.
Eyewitnesses have alleged that hired goons, reportedly brought in from Kawangware and paid KSh 2,000 each along with fuel, were deployed to disrupt the peaceful protests — intensifying anger over rising police brutality.
As Boniface continues to recover, his family’s call for justice has become a rallying cry in a broader national demand for police accountability and reform.
