Kenyan vendor shot by police is now brain dead

The Kenyan mask vendor who had been shot by the police during a demonstration is now brain dead as announced by the doctors of Kenyatta National Hospital, Africanews reported on June 30th.

The doctors of the hospital relayed the news to his family, stating that 22-year-old, Boniface Mwangi Kariuki’s brain stem was not functioning anymore.

“We received a call from the hospital at 12:47 am saying that they needed to have a brief with us, and we have been told what is happening” Emily Wanjira, a spokesperson of Kariuki, stated to journalists.

“The reality of things is that Boniface Mwangi Kairuki is declared brain-dead. The hospital bill is now higher than Ksh3 million. We are praying and hoping for the well-wishers because when someone is declared brain-dead, we know what it means, so the brain stem of Boniface is not working any longer” Wanjira added.

Karuki, a hawker, much like his father, was in possession of a packet of face masks and is believed to have been involved in a clash with two officers in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, as hundreds of demonstrators clashed with police officers.

One officer, who was wearing a face mask, shot the 22-year-old at close range. The Nairobi protests came after tensions surrounding the death of Albert Ojwang, who was a blogger. He was found dead while he was at the Central Police Station.

Africanews