Demands for accountability intensified on Wednesday after a 22-year-old Kenyan civilian was shot in the head at close range by police during protests sparked by the suspicious death of a blogger in custody. The shooting victim, Boniface Kariuki, is now fighting for his life in intensive care and his family and rights groups are urging the government to charge the officer responsible.
Speaking to reporters, Kariuki’s father, Jonah Kariuki, confirmed that his son had undergone surgery after a shotgun round pierced his skull just above the ear. “His heart was beating,” he said. “The surgery was successful.”
Kariuki, a street hawker like his father, had reportedly been holding a packet of face masks when he became entangled in a confrontation with two police officers on a Nairobi sidewalk during the protests. One of the officers, whose face was hidden behind a mask, fired the shot as Kariuki walked away.
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Kenyan police released a statement acknowledging the incident, saying they had arrested two officers, Klinzy Barasa and Duncan Kiprono, who were now being processed for “further action.”
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The protests erupted in the wake of growing outrage over the death of blogger Albert Ojwang, who was detained on June 6 in western Kenya for allegedly sharing “false information” about a senior police official. He later died in custody at the Central Police Station in Nairobi.
Authorities claim Ojwang died from injuries sustained after he “hit his head against the cell wall,” but activists and observers have questioned the plausibility of that account. His death has since ignited nationwide protests, with demonstrators demanding the arrest of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Langat, who had originally filed the defamation complaint against Ojwang.
Langat announced Monday that he had stepped aside to allow for a full investigation, and two officers stationed at the jail where Albert Ojwang died were arrested last week.
At the Kariuki family home in Murang’a County, north of Nairobi, anxiety and heartbreak have taken hold. Neighbors expressed fear for their children’s safety in the capital, citing what they see as a disturbing increase in police violence.
Kariuki’s mother, Susan Njeri, recounted her final conversation with her son, which took place the Sunday before the protests. She had urged him to be careful. Now, she questions why he was targeted at all.
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“If they saw him with a stone or a baton, it would make sense to shoot him,” she told The Associated Press. “But none of this makes sense. It was not a confrontation, he was just hustling.”
Her husband added pointedly, “The officer who shot my son should take individual responsibility.”
Tuesday’s protests turned chaotic. Sixteen people were taken to the hospital where Kariuki is being treated, with injuries including gunshot wounds. Seven victims remained hospitalized on Wednesday.
The Judiciary of Kenya, in a public statement, reaffirmed its commitment to “uphold justice” in all cases, including those involving police violence.
Amnesty International Kenya accused law enforcement of failing to protect peaceful protesters from criminal elements that had infiltrated the demonstrations. The police, for their part, said they were investigating alleged robbery cases connected to the protests and had arrested one suspect, recovering four stolen laptops.
A U.K. Embassy statement on X (formerly Twitter) called for “a swift, independent & transparent investigation into the actions of the police.”
Kenya’s recent history is stained with allegations of excessive force by security agencies. President William Ruto has previously promised to end police brutality and extrajudicial killings, but critics argue that little has changed. Just last year, several activists were reportedly abducted and killed by police during protests over tax increases, fueling public anger and renewed calls for Ruto’s resignation.
Okiya Omtatah, a prominent politician and human rights advocate, condemned the shooting and raised concerns over officers masking their identities during operations.
READ ALSO: Police clash with protesters over Kenyan blogger’s mysterious death in custody
