Mask Vendor Boniface Kariuki Declared Brain Dead as Medical Bill Surpasses Sh3 Million
Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, 22, the mask vendor who was shot in the head during the ‘Justice for Albert Ojwang’ protests in Nairobi has been pronounced brain dead, according to his family. The announcement was made after hospital officials at Kenyatta National Hospital called the family at midnight on Saturday.
Kariuki who was hawking face masks before the incident sustained critical injuries on June 17 after being shot at close range along Tom Mboya Street during protests calling for the resignation of Deputy Inspector General Eliud Lagat. He had been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for nearly two weeks undergoing multiple surgeries.
Family spokesperson Emily Wanjiru spoke to journalists on Saturday afternoon saying, “We were called here at midnight. When we came here they told us he is now brain dead but there is still a pulse. They can’t turn off the life support machine because of legal issues.”
Doctors had initially removed the bullet during the first surgery but residual fragments in his brain have been a major challenge to his recovery. Ms Wanjiru said Kariuki recently underwent a third surgery where they repositioned the breathing tubes from his nose to his throat and inserted feeding tubes in his abdomen to help with nutrition.
Despite the efforts of the medical team Kariuki’s condition has not improved. The hospital bill has now gone above Sh3 million and the family is appealing for financial support from the public. “We are asking Kenyans of goodwill to help us during this difficult time,” said Ms Wanjiru.
As Kariuki remains on life support legal and ethical issues now dictate what happens next. The case continues to gain public attention as protests and calls for police accountability in Kenya continue. The family has not yet said what they will do next but emphasized the need for financial and moral support from the community.
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Mask Vendor Boniface Kariuki Declared Brain Dead as Medical Bill Surpasses Sh3 Million