Boniface Kariuki died from gunshot injuries, autopsy reveals
The family expressed shock at the number of fragments that were still in the brain of their deceased kin
Mask vendor Boniface Kariuki died of severe head injuries from a single close-range bullet wound, an autopsy has revealed.
The post-mortem, which was conducted by government pathologist Benard Midia alongside family pathologist Peter Ndegwa, confirmed that Kariuki was shot at zero range with the bullet causing fatal trauma to his head.
In addition, four additional fragments were retrieved from Mwangi’s brain during the autopsy, adding to the two that had been previously removed during high-risk surgeries at the Kenyatta National Hospital.
Two police officers linked to the fatal shooting were arraigned today; however, the arraignment was postponed next week to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to amend the charges from grievous harm to murder.
Officials from Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) were present during the autopsy and are expected to submit their findings to the DPP to support appropriate charges against two officers already arraigned in court.
“We have come up with a conclusive report that the cause of death was severe head injuries due to a single gunshot. The chances of survival were very minimal. The surgery at KNH removed some bullet particles from the brain, but some remained,” Midia stated.
The family expressed shock at the number of fragments that were still in the brain of their deceased kin.
“It is a shock for us being because they have removed four more fragments after the surgeons had earlier removed two that we were shown as a family,” Emily Wanjira, the family spokesperson, stated.
Wanjira said that the surgeons had explained that the fragments were deeply embedded in the brain, hence the removal could kill him.
Boniface was killed during protests in the Nairobi Central Business District as Kenyans were protesting the removal of Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, who was accused of triggering the mysterious murder of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang while at the Nairobi Central Police Station.
Ojwang had been arrested in his home back in Homa Bay after Lagat had launched a complaint at the National Police Service.
The video showing the shooting of Kariuki by the two officers went viral, leading to their arrest and interdiction.
He will be buried next week as announced by his family at their home in Karirau village, Kangema in Murang’a County.
