John Kariuki, father to Boniface Kariuki, who was shot at close range by police during protests. Photo: Standard Digital.
Mask vendor identified as Boniface Mwangi, a 22-year-old who was shot during Tuesday protests in Nairobi CBD is alive, and currently under observation, as confirmed by his father John Kariuki.
Speaking to the media after visiting his son at Kenyatta Referral Hospital in Nairobi, Kariuki said he had seen his son who is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), although the distressed father expressed uncertainty of his wellness, with a hope that he will survive.
“I saw him, and he looked okay, although I can’t say he’s completely fine because of the machine. But I have faith he will recover, unlike reports I was seeing on social media that deeply sunk my heart,” faintly said Kariuki.
He narrated that he saw his son on the viral photos and videos circulating online as he headed home, when he was later called in the evening with his colleagues that his son was shot in the protests and is currently in Hospital.
“My heart skipped after watching the video, but I did not want to believe it was him. Later in the evening at around 8pm, I received a call from his colleagues that Boniface was shot and rushed to the hospital around 10pm,” Kariuki narrated.
He further clarified that his son was only a business person, and he has never heard him being involved in any criminal activity before.
After circulation of his death on Tuesday evening, Director General Ministry of Health Patrick Amoth confirmed that the victim was shot on the head, and was accessed by medical officers, and was undergoing a neurosurgery at KNH. Amoth further said that the victim was acted on immediately he was received at the hospital.
Boniface is among the 22 victims of protests who sustained various injuries in the protests witnessed in Nairobi, Kilifi and Mombasa counties on Tuesday, according to a statement by Kenya National Commission of Human Rights (KNCHR).
The Commission said that a majority of victims sustained head cuts, lashes whip, asthma attack from inhaled teargas and blunt trauma. KNCHR condemned the police officers who used force on peaceful protesters, as well as violating a ruling that ruled out the officers in protests should not cover their faces.
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