Why Boniface Kariuki could not survive the bullet

Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, the 22-year-old hawker was shot in the head on June 17, 2025 in Nairobi, had minimal chances of survival.

This was revealed after postmortem conducted on his body at the Kenyatta National Hospital Funeral home.

It was also discovered, during the three hour exercise, four fragments of a bullet were still lodged in the brain. “We reached a conclusion that the cause of death was severe head injuries due to a single gunshot and his brain was disturbed thus his chances of survival were minimal,” pathologist Peter Ndegwa explained.

“During The exercise, we also found some bullet fragments in the brain that were not removed during the first operation, they were four and blackish rubber fragments,” Dr Ndegwa added

However, he said it was not clear exactly when Kariuki died between the time he was shot and the time he succumbed in the ICU, adding that there was a lot of bleeding around the brain. Ndegwa confirmed that the body also had minor bruises likely caused by the impact when falling after being shot but the distance from which Kariuki was shot from was not established.

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Kariuki was shot during protests demanding resignation of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat over the death of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang’.

In a viral video, two anti-riot police officers were seen assaulting a trader along Kimathi Street before one of them shoved him aside and shot him in the head. Well-wishers picked him up and rushed him to Bliss Hospital for first aid. He was later moved to Kenyatta National Hospital where he underwent three surgeries in the head in an attempt to save his life until he was pronounced dead on June 30, 2025.

Family spokesperson Emily Wanjira said the postmortem confirmed their earlier fears that the bullet had severely damaged his brain. “It was sad ending for such a young life but we are still appealing to the authorities and Kenyans to stand with us in all aspects until justice is served for Kariuki,” she said.

Meanwhile, former PS Irungu Nyakera met the family after the postmortem and said based on the cases reported during June 17 demonstrations, it appears police officers were instructed to shoot protestors.

“This was a target where you actually have been given instructions as police officers to shoot, to kill. There’s now no other thing that you can use to explain what transpired,” Nyakera said.

The former PS challenged the State to accept the reality that we live in a democracy governed by the Constitution. “Young people and Kenyans in general have a right to assemble to demonstrate and to voice out things that they feel are not going right,” he said.

According to the family, Kariuki’s body will be moved to Kenyatta University funeral home awaiting burial on July 11, 2025 at their home in Kangema. On June 2, Kariuki’s father recorded a statement at Central Police station detailing what transpired on the day his son was shot.

- Additional Reporting by Clare Ochieng and Maurice Odiwuor