All signs were clear that Boniface Kariuki, was not going to survive after being shot at a close range during demonstration in Nairobi on June, 17 2025.
Postmortem results have now established that four fragments of bullets that were still lodged in the brain.
“We reached a conclusion that the cause of death was severe head injuries due to a single gunshot and his brain was disturbed thus his chances of survival were minimal,” pathologist Peter Ndegwa explained.
“During the exercise, we also found some bullet fragments in the brain that were not removed during the first operation, they were four and blackish rubber fragments,” Ndegwa added
He however said it was not clear exactly when Kariuki died between the time he was shot and the time he succumbed in the ICU adding that there was a lot of bleeding around the brain.
Ndegwa confirmed that the body also had minor bruises likely caused by the impact when falling after being shot but the distance from which Kariuki was shot from was not established.
Kariuki was shot during protests demanding the resignation of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat over the death of teacher and blogger Ojwang’.
In a viral video, two anti-riot police officers were seen assaulting a trader along Kimathi Street before one of them shoved him aside and shot him in the head.
Immediately the officers left the scene, well-wishers picked Kariuki and rushed him to Bliss Hospital for first aid.
He was later moved to Kenyatta National Hospital where he underwent three surgeries in the head in an attempt to save his life until he was pronounced dead on June, 30 2025.
After the shooting, police officers Klinzy Barasa and Duncan Kiprono were arrested and during their first appearance in court, they were accused of assaulting the hawker.
But On July 2, Kariuki’s father formally recorded a statement at Central Police station detailing what transpired on the day his son was shot.
