Father of hawker Boniface Kariuki speaks after son was shot by police in Nairobi protests

Jonah Kariuki Nyambura, the father of 22-year-old Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, shot by police during protests in Nairobi, has spoken publicly for the first time.

In a video shared by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, a visibly emotional Jonah reflected on his son’s difficult upbringing amid financial hardship.

“Nimemlea kwa shida sana lakini sasa niko na huzuni kulingana na mahali ako, lakini si mbaya sana. Tunaomba atakuwa poa,” he said.

Jonah further revealed that Boniface, who was shot in the CBD, was a hawker.

“Anatoka Makadara, lakini anauzia huko Commercial,” he added.

We’re at KNH with Jonah Kariuki whose son Boniface Mwangi Kariuki was brutally shot by a rogue police force at close range yesterday while hawking face masks along Moi Avenue during the #JusticeForAlbertOjwang protest. Boniface Mwangi Kariuki is alive but fighting for his life in… pic.twitter.com/O50b2bLooC

— Okiya Omtatah Okoiti (@OkiyaOmtatah) June 18, 2025

Jonah himself is also a hawker.

Senator Omtatah, who accompanied Jonah to the hospital, said he had spoken with a doctor at Kenyatta National Hospital to get an update on Boniface’s condition.

“Nilipigia daktari hapa Kenyatta ambaye tuna uhusiano na nikamwomba aende ahakikishe. Alipoenda kwenye ICU, alinipigia simu na kuniambia kuwa kijana ako hai na ninaweza kumwona,” he said.

However, Omtatah was denied access to Boniface but confirmed that more protesters were also being treated at the facility.

Boniface was reportedly selling face masks in the city centre when he was shot, in the wake of protests triggered by the death of Albert Ojwang’ while in police custody.

A now-viral video captured the moment two police officers confronted him. The disturbing footage shows the officers cornering and assaulting him before one of them opened fire at close range.

Boniface collapsed instantly, the face masks he was selling still in his hand, as the officers casually walked away.

Police have since confirmed that the officer involved has been arrested.

“Following this incident, the Inspector-General National Police Service ordered for the immediate arrest and arraignment in court of the involved officer. The said police officer has since been arrested,” police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement shared on social media.

Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount on the government, with growing concern about the excessive use of force during the protests and unanswered questions about the origin of goons seen disrupting the demonstrations in the CBD.