The father of Boniface Kariuki, the 22-year-old man shot by an anti-riot police officer in Nairobi’s CBD on Tuesday, has broken his silence, expressing shock and frustration over the incident.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday morning, Kariuki’s father said he first saw images of his injured son circulating on social media before receiving a call from a friend confirming the shooting.
“I was shocked and broken. When I saw the video on my phone, I witnessed police shooting my son,” he said.
Boniface, the firstborn in a family of four, was reportedly selling masks and beauty products along Moi Avenue when police opened fire during protests against Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat.
His father rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, where Boniface had been taken. He confirmed that his son underwent surgery and is alive but in critical condition in the ICU.
“My son is a vendor. When I visited him, he was on oxygen, but doctors assured me they would do their best,” he added.
Footage of the incident showed two officers assaulting Boniface before one shot him in the neck. The National Police Service has since confirmed that the officer involved has been arrested, though his identity remains undisclosed.
