Kenyans were heartbroken by the tragic case of Boniface Kariuki, a 22-year-old mask vendor who was shot in the head by a police officer in Nairobi’s Central Business District on June 17, 2024. The incident, which occurred near Imenti House on Moi Avenue during protests, was captured on video, sparking national outrage and leading to the arrest and interdiction of the responsible police officers. Boniface, who was reportedly selling masks and not part of the protests, was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in critical condition, where he remained bedridden and on life support for over two weeks.

Despite undergoing several complex surgeries, including the removal of a bullet and relocation of breathing tubes, fragments of ammunition remained lodged in his brain, posing a significant challenge to the medical team. On Sunday, June 29, 2024, the family was informed that Boniface had been officially declared brain dead. Medical professional Dornboss Mbohi Emoja from Kakamega County clarified that brain death signifies the irreversible cessation of brain stem function, which controls vital life processes such as breathing and heartbeat. Unlike a coma, where recovery is possible, brain death is legally and medically recognized as death in many countries, including Kenya, meaning Boniface’s body was only sustained by a ventilator and other life-support systems.

The declaration of brain death plunged Kariuki’s family into a profound legal and ethical dilemma. According to Mbohi, the decision to turn off life support machines carried severe legal ramifications. Defence lawyers might argue that discontinuing life support, rather than the initial gunshot, was the direct cause of death, potentially reducing charges against the police officer from murder to manslaughter. This legal grey area left the family paralyzed with fear, torn between prolonging their son’s pain and risking an alteration to the course of justice.

In the midst of their despair, doctors presented the possibility of organ donation, offering a chance for Boniface to save multiple lives. However, this delicate conversation was made more complex by the immense trauma surrounding his case. The incident also ignited a firestorm of debate on police brutality and accountability across Kenya. Controversy deepened when former police spokesperson Charles Owino claimed Boniface had insulted the officers, attempting to justify the shooting by citing the officer’s youth and inexperience. However, the Kariuki family vehemently refuted these claims, asserting that Boniface was merely hustling and was not involved in any altercation.

Adding to the family’s immense burden was the escalating hospital bill, which surpassed KSh 4 million. Reports also emerged that KSh 200,000, raised by Kenyans to support his medical expenses, was swindled from his father’s account. Boniface Kariuki was finally pronounced dead on Monday, June 30, 2024, at 3:15 p.m., a day after being declared brain dead. His passing left many Kenyans deeply saddened, prompting renewed demands for justice and accountability for his untimely death.