A father’s voice trembled with grief and disbelief as he described the nightmare his family is now living through — the shooting of his son, 22-year-old Boniface Kariuki, by an anti-riot police officer in broad daylight on the busy streets of Nairobi’s Central Business District.
Boniface, a familiar face among hawkers in the city centre, was doing what he had done nearly every day for the past few years — selling masks and beauty products like earrings and lip gloss — when a confrontation between vendors and law enforcement officers turned violent. Caught in the chaos, he was shot and left critically wounded.
He now lies in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), fighting for his life after undergoing emergency surgery. His condition remains dire but stable, according to medical staff.
“That Image Will Haunt Me Forever”
Boniface’s father, who has asked not to be named for security reasons, described the moment that turned his world upside down. “I received a call from one of his close friends. They told me he had been shot. I thought it was just a minor injury,” he said, speaking outside the hospital on Wednesday morning. “But then I saw a photo online — his body soaked in blood, lying on the pavement. At first, I couldn’t believe it was him.”
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What confirmed his worst fears was a short but harrowing video clip that quickly went viral. In it, a young man matching Boniface’s description is seen collapsing after a loud gunshot is heard. The shooter, allegedly a police officer, walks away without offering help.
“I watched it alone. On my phone. Over and over. I still can’t get it out of my mind,” the father said. “They shot my son like an animal.”
A Son, A Brother, A Hustler
Boniface is the eldest in a family of four children. His mother, too shaken to speak, has been by his bedside since Tuesday night. The young vendor had become the backbone of the family after finishing high school, stepping up to help support his younger siblings by selling merchandise in town.
“He was never a troublemaker,” his father insisted. “He wasn’t involved in crime. All he did was hustle, day in and day out. Even when we told him to stay home during protests, he would say, ‘I can’t afford to miss a day.’” That day’s hustle nearly cost him his life.
Chaos in the CBD
Eyewitnesses say the shooting occurred amid a police crackdown on informal traders, some of whom were allegedly resisting orders to vacate the area. “We were all running. The officers were charging at us, swinging batons, throwing tear gas,” said a fellow vendor, who asked not to be named. “Then I heard the gunshot. I turned and saw Boniface fall. He didn’t even have anything threatening on him.”
According to initial reports, Boniface was unarmed and not involved in any aggressive actions toward the officers at the time he was shot. Human rights organizations have already called for an independent investigation into the incident, which they describe as a clear case of police brutality.
Clinging to Hope
Boniface’s father says he arrived at KNH around 9 p.m. Tuesday after abandoning a journey home. “I didn’t even go to the house. I came straight here,” he said. “When I saw him in ICU, unconscious and on oxygen, something in me shattered. But then I touched his hand, and the doctors told me his heart was still beating. That gave me a small piece of hope.”
Doctors have since performed a complex surgery to control internal bleeding and repair organ damage. They continue to monitor him closely. “We’re doing everything possible,” a nurse confirmed, though details remain guarded due to patient confidentiality.
“He’s Not Dead — Don’t Spread Lies”
Amid the heartbreak, the family has had to deal with an onslaught of misinformation. Social media posts falsely claiming Boniface had died have circulated widely, adding to the trauma.
“I want people to stop spreading lies. My son is not dead. He is alive. He’s fighting. He needs your prayers, not rumors,” the father pleaded.
The Call for Justice
The family is now calling on the government and relevant authorities to not only bring the officer involved to justice but also to address the broader issue of police violence against vulnerable Kenyans.
“We are poor, yes. We hawk on the streets, yes. But that does not mean we are less human,” the father said, holding back tears. “My son didn’t deserve a bullet. He deserved protection, not persecution.”
As Boniface fights for his life in hospital, his family, friends, and fellow traders continue to gather outside KNH and in Nairobi’s city centre — waiting, praying, and demanding answers.
“This story shouldn’t end in a hospital bed,” said a close friend of Boniface. “He deserves to live. And if he does, he deserves justice.”