Bonface Kariuki, a mask vendor who was shot in the head by a police officer during recent anti-police brutality protests in Nairobi, has died.
His death was confirmed on Monday by family spokesperson Emily Wanjira, just a day after doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) declared him brain dead.
His family said they were waiting outside the hospital when they received a call from the hospital informing them that Kariuki had died at 3.15 p.m. on Monday.
Wanjira told the media on Sunday that while Kariuki's vital organs were still functioning, medical personnel had confirmed that his brain activity had stopped.
“Mwangi is confirmed brain dead. We know what it means. We are just waiting for the doctor to tell us he is no more,” she said.
Kariuki had been admitted to KNH’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he underwent two operations in an effort to remove bullet fragments from his brain.
Despite medical intervention and round-the-clock care, his condition failed to improve, with doctors unable to extract all the fragments lodged in his skull.
His father, Jonah Kariuki, earlier revealed that the family was grappling with a soaring hospital bill, which had already surpassed Ksh.1 million.
The family is now calling for accountability and justice.
In an emotional appeal, they urged the judicial system to take swift action against the police officers involved, demanding convictions and sentencing for what they described as an unprovoked and criminal act.