SHOT MASK VENDOR'S FATHER SPEAKS

The father of shot Nairobi mask vendor has spoken out, confirming son's identity and dismissing the initial claims that he was dead.

Jonah Kariuki, the victim's father, broke his silence on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, while addressing the media outside Kenyatta National Hospital. He was accompanied by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah.

Kariuki confirmed that the young man shot during protests is his 22-year-old son, Boniface Kariuki Mwangi. Expressing both pain and uncertain hope, he said Boniface is currently hospitalized but in a relatively stable condition.

“I am Jonah Kariuki Nyambura, and the young man who was shot is my son, Boniface Mwangi Kariuki. He earns a living selling face masks in the city, and I am also a hawker. I’ve raised him through many hardships,” he said, adding that they live in Makadara and Boniface usually plies his trade around the Commercial area of Nairobi’s CBD.

A fellow trader, Edwin Kagia, who witnessed the incident, shared his account of the events. According to Kagia, they were vending near Imenti House when police officers approached. He claimed that Boniface was slapped by one officer before raising his hands in surrender—yet he was still shot.

“My name is Edwin Kagia. Yesterday, Boniface and I were selling masks outside Imenti House when an officer confronted us. He slapped Boniface, and even after he raised his hands, the officer shot him, and he collapsed,” Kagia recounted.

Boniface was immediately rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he is now under medical care. Kagia urged the public to disregard false reports on social media claiming Boniface had died, confirming that the vendor is very much alive.

“He was brought here to Kenyatta, where doctors have been attending to him. I’ve personally seen him with his father—he is alive. Those social media posts saying he passed away are false,” he emphasized.

Senator Okiya Omtatah, who accompanied the family to the hospital, also commented on the situation. Although he was not allowed into the ICU, he confirmed receiving updates from hospital staff about Boniface’s improving condition.

“I wasn’t granted access to the ICU, but what matters to me is that I’ve confirmed with my own eyes that the young man is alive. That’s enough assurance for now. Let’s continue praying that the doctors manage to save his life,” Omtatah said.

The brutal shooting of Boniface, during the Tuesday 'Justice for Ojwang,' protests elicited rage from Kenyans to political leaders calling for action against the officer and police brutality as a whole.

This occurred at a time when the GenZs are suffering fresh wounds from the custodial death of social media influencer, Albert Ojwang.

The National Police Service (NPS) confirmed that the officer has been arrested but not revealing his identity.