The father of Boniface Kariuki, a 22-year-old hawker who was shot by police in Nairobi city centre, has shared his sadness and shock over what happened to his son.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday morning, he said he first learned about the incident through social media on Tuesday evening. Around 8:00 p.m., one of his son’s close friends called to confirm the sad news — that Boniface had been shot by police during a protest.
“At first, I wasn’t sure if it was really him because I saw a photo online. But later, I recognized him and my heart broke,” he said.
The father added that when he saw a video on his phone, it clearly showed a police officer shooting his son. Boniface, the firstborn in a family of four children, was selling face masks as usual in the CBD when he was shot.
After hearing the news, the father quickly went to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) to see his son. He dismissed rumors that Boniface had died and confirmed that he was still alive and had undergone surgery.
“When I saw him in the ICU, he was on oxygen, but his heart was still beating. I felt hopeful again,” he added.
Boniface was shot on Moi Avenue by an anti-riot police officer during protests against Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat. A video on social media shows two officers attacking him before one shoots him in the neck.
The officer’s name has not yet been made public, but police said investigations are ongoing.
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