The family of Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, the Nairobi mask vendor who was shot at close range during anti-government protests on June 17, is calling for an independent postmortem as they push for justice in the high-profile police brutality case.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, July 1, family spokesperson Emily Wanjira said they will enlist the services of a private pathologist due to what she described as the “sensitive and suspicious” nature of the incident.

She made the announcement while flanked by Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and DAP-K’s Eugene Wamalwa.

Wanjira explained that the family had suspended burial plans until the autopsy is conducted.

“We haven’t made any burial arrangements yet. We first need to carry out a postmortem, and due to the gravity of the matter, we’ll be engaging a private pathologist. The date for the procedure is yet to be confirmed,” she told reporters.

The family’s plea comes amid growing frustration after they, together with Kangema MP Peter Irungu, claimed they had been denied the chance to formally record a statement regarding the shooting.

Boniface Kariuki died on Monday, June 30, at 3:15 p.m., as confirmed by his father, Jonah Kariuki.

He had been fighting for his life in the Intensive Care Unit at Kenyatta National Hospital since the day of the incident. Prior to his death, the family had revealed that doctors had declared him brain dead.

Kariuki was shot while hawking face masks along Mondlane Street in Nairobi, during protests demanding justice for university student Albert Ojwang.

His shooting, captured on video, sparked national outrage.

Two police officers captured in the viral footage, Klinzy Barasa Masinde and Duncan Kipron, are currently in custody.

They were arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on June 18 and are being held at the Capitol Hill Police Station.

A court later ordered their detention for 15 days pending investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).

Kariuki was rushed to KNH by well-wishers, moments after the shooting, underwent emergency surgery, and was placed on life support in critical condition until his eventual demise.

The case continues to stir public concern as pressure mounts on authorities to ensure accountability in a series of violent crackdowns against demonstrators across the country.