Boniface Kariuki: Hawker Shot in CBD Remained with 4 Bullets Fragments in His Head, Autopsy Shows
- Mask vendor Boniface Kariuki, who was shot during protests, was pronounced dead on Monday, June 30
- An autopsy was conducted on his body on Thursday, July 3, to establish the exact cause of his death
- The family spokesperson, Emily Njira, explained why four bullet fragments that remained in his brain could not be removed
Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
New details have emerged following the death of mask vendor Boniface Kariuki, who was shot during protests in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD).
Source: Twitter
Kariuki passed away on Monday, June 3, after undergoing two life-saving surgeries on his brain to remove the bullet fragments.
An autopsy was carried out on Kariuki at the Kenyatta National Hospital to establish the exact cause of his untimely death.
Were there bullets lodged in Kariuki's brain?
According to Kariuki's family doctor, four bullet fragments remained lodged in the deceased's brain. While two others were removed through two lifesaving surgeries, while he was still alive
"There were still some particles in the brain. They were rubbery and blackish. The brain is quite destroyed," Family doctor Peter Ndegwa told Citizen TV.
It was also established that the hawker died from the brain injuries that he sustained from being shot at close range by an anti-riot police officer.
"The brain is quite disturbed, and the chances of survival were very minimal," Ndegwa added.
The autopsy was conducted by government pathologist Bernard Midia in collaboration with the family doctor, Peter Ndegwa, on Thursday, Jun 3.
Why were bullet fragments not removed?
The family spokesperson, Emily Wanjira, stated that it was difficult to remove the four remaining bullet fragments as they were deeply lodged in the brain.
"The doctors could not have tried to touch those fragments because he could have died," Wanjira said.
Despite the autopsy establishing Kariuki's cause of death, the exact time of death was to established. The doctors stated that there were chances that Kariuki's brain had died days before his family was notified.
The hawker had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at the Kenyatta National Hospital, where he was being closely monitored.
The mask vendor's family has reiterated its call for justice, asking the Kenya Kwanza government to ensure that the perpetrators behind Kariuki's death are brought to book.
Police officers linked to Kariuki's shooting detained
This comes hours after the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) was granted an additional seven days to finalise their investigations into the shooting of Kariuki.
The two officers identified as Klinzy Barasa and Duncan Kiprono from Kileleshwa Police Station were taken into custody after being linked to the hawker's shooting.
Source: Original
During a proceeding on July 3, at the Milimani Law Court, the prosecution told the Senior Principal Magistrate Ben Mark Ekhubi that the initial 15-day detention period was coming to an end, thus needing an additional seven days.
IPOA stated that the additional time granted would be used to finalise the forensic work, including ballistic tests, CCTV analysis and witness interviews.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
