While 22-year-old Boniface Kariuki battles for his life at Kenyatta National Hospital after being shot by police during protests, his family has suffered another devastating blow—this time not from a bullet, but from a cruel scam.
Jonah Kariuki, Boniface’s father, was conned out of Ksh200,000 by fraudsters posing as officials from the Social Health Authority (SHA). Desperate to save his son and clear rising medical bills, he believed the con artists’ promise to help him register with SHA and settle part of the hospital fees.
Instead, they wiped out his savings. The betrayal comes at a time when the family is struggling to raise money for Boniface’s care following two critical surgeries.
Fraudsters Target Vulnerable Families Using Boniface Kariuki’s Name
According to the family’s spokesperson, Emily Wanjiru, Jonah Kariuki was contacted by someone claiming to work with SHA. The caller promised assistance with hospital bills through a special registration into the health scheme.
“They told him he needed to pay some money for the registration to go through,” Wanjiru explained. “He thought they were legitimate and gave out his personal details, including his M-Pesa PIN. That’s how they stole everything.”
Jonah told the press that the fraudsters initially requested Ksh20,500. However, in the process of sending the payment, he mistakenly transferred Ksh200,500.
“Yes, it’s true. They scammed me out of Ksh200,000. It was an error. I was meant to send Ksh20,500, but I keyed in the wrong figure during the transaction,” he said.
Jonah later realised the transaction message had been deleted, likely by the scammer using remote access tools. When he tried to call back, the line was already disconnected.
All attempts to recover the money have so far failed.
No Help Yet as Boniface Kariuki Battles for His Life
Boniface Kariuki, the young man at the centre of the tragedy, remains in critical condition. He was shot during protests in Nairobi’s CBD on June 17.
The demonstrations were meant to honour Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody. Boniface, a face mask vendor, was caught in the chaos and hit by a police bullet.
He was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department at 3:16 PM. Since then, Boniface has undergone two surgeries to remove bullet fragments from his head.
His condition remains fragile. The family has been calling for justice and financial support as medical expenses continue to pile up.
“We will hold a press conference outside KNH soon,” said the family’s spokesperson. “We want to update Kenyans on Boniface’s condition and also warn others about these fake officials.”
SHA Warns Public as Scam Cases Rise
The Social Health Authority has since issued warnings to the public, stressing that registration to the new national scheme is entirely free.
There are only three official ways to register:
- USSD code (for those without smartphones)
- Online registration through the SHA portal
- Employer registration for companies enrolling workers
At no point should anyone pay an agent, provide their M-Pesa PIN, or accept unsolicited calls claiming to offer financial aid.
“Unfortunately, scammers are now exploiting victims of police brutality and health emergencies,” said an SHA officer who requested anonymity. “It’s shameful. These criminals prey on people’s pain.”
Kenyans have been urged to report suspicious calls to both the police and SHA immediately. Fraud targeting the vulnerable has become more common, especially during national emergencies or protests when families are desperate for help.
