The father of Boniface Kariuki, a young hawker who was recently shot by an anti-riot police officer in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD), has finally spoken out, expressing deep pain and frustration over the tragic incident involving his son.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday morning, Kariuki’s father revealed that he learned about the shooting on Tuesday evening through posts circulating on social media.
He explained that around 8 p.m., one of his son’s close friends called him and confirmed the devastating news—that Boniface had indeed been shot by police officers in the city centre.
“I got a call from my son’s friends who informed me about the shooting. When I first saw his image online, I couldn’t immediately tell if it was really him,” the father said emotionally. “But later on, as I kept looking, I realized it was indeed my son.
I was heartbroken. I saw a video on my phone, and in it, I clearly saw police officers beating him and then one of them shooting him.”
He went on to share that Boniface, who is just 22 years old, is the eldest in a family of four children. According to the father, his son was simply going about his normal hustle—selling face masks around the CBD—when he was shot.
After receiving the shocking news, Kariuki’s father abandoned the journey he was making to return home and instead rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), where his son had been rushed for urgent medical attention.
He clarified false claims that had been circulating online suggesting that Boniface had died. The father firmly stated that his son is still alive and even underwent surgery the previous night.
“I saw my son in the ICU. He was in very bad shape and had been placed on oxygen, but his heart was still beating. Just seeing him there gave me some hope,” he said with a mix of relief and sorrow.
He added, “My son works hard to earn a living. He sells masks in the city and sometimes other items like earrings and beauty products.
When I reached the hospital, the doctors gave me some reassurance that they were doing everything they could to save him.”
The shooting occurred on Tuesday afternoon along Moi Avenue during a tense protest against the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Eliud Lagat.
According to multiple witnesses and video footage that went viral on social media, two police officers were seen brutally attacking Kariuki before one of them pulled out his firearm and shot him in the neck at close range.
Although the officer responsible for the shooting has not yet been publicly named, the National Police Service, through its spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga, confirmed on Tuesday night that the officer had been arrested.
The incident has sparked outrage among many Kenyans, with human rights groups and members of the public demanding justice for Boniface and accountability within the police force.
As Kariuki continues to fight for his life in hospital, his family remains hopeful and calls for swift action against the officer involved.
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