Hawker Boniface Kariuki Confirmed Brain Dead by His Family

 

By Ruth Sang

Boniface Kariuki, a young hawker from Eldoret, has been confirmed brain dead by doctors at Kenyatta National Hospital following injuries sustained during the recent anti-finance bill protests in Nairobi, his family has said.

Kariuki had travelled to the capital in search of better economic opportunities but tragically became one of the many casualties in the nationwide demonstrations. According to his relatives, he was brutally attacked by unknown assailants during the protests and later admitted to the ICU at Kenyatta National Hospital, where he remained unconscious for several days.

“We were told by the doctors that Boniface is brain dead. His condition is not improving,” a heartbroken family spokesperson told reporters. “He went to Nairobi for work, not to die.”

The family is now pleading for help from well-wishers and urging human rights organizations to intervene. They are calling for justice and accountability in the wake of Kariuki’s condition.

His case has resonated widely on social media, becoming a stark symbol of the growing toll on Kenya’s youth—many of whom have taken to the streets to exercise their constitutional right to protest, only to face violence and tragedy in return.

As Boniface Kariuki lies unresponsive in hospital, his story underscores the human cost of the ongoing unrest and has fueled further calls for reform and protection of citizens' rights during demonstrations.