Tension in Murang’a as Police Flood Road to Slain Vendor Boniface Kariuki’s Home
Tensions ran high in Murang’a after a large number of police officers were spotted along the road leading to the home of Boniface Kariuki — the mask seller who was fatally shot by police during the anti-government protests in Nairobi on June 17.
Photos obtained by Gossipa2z.com showed several police trucks stationed near the Murang’a junction, close to Kariuki’s family residence in Iyego, Kangema. The deployment came just before his planned burial.
Officers guarded key points along the road and the surrounding area, while some remained inside their trucks, appearing ready to respond if violence broke out.
Local residents expressed outrage over the heavy police presence, accusing the police of playing a role in Kariuki’s death.
“Why can’t they let Boni rest in peace? Is it really necessary to follow him to the grave?” one mourner asked.
To support the grieving family and ensure a respectful send-off, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko dispatched his Sonko Rescue Team to escort the funeral convoy from KU Funeral Home to the burial site.
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The mood at the funeral home was somber and emotional. Friends, relatives, and community members gathered to bid farewell to the young vendor. In a heartbreaking moment, Kariuki’s mother collapsed in sorrow and had to be attended to by medics before regaining consciousness.
A moving requiem mass was held earlier at the Holy Family Basilica, where mourners demanded justice and an end to police violence in Kenya.
Following public pressure and investigations, the Director of Public Prosecutions approved murder charges against Police Constable Klinzy Masinde Barasa, who is accused of shooting Kariuki at close range.
Kariuki was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital and underwent emergency surgery. He spent two weeks in the Intensive Care Unit but was later declared brain dead. A post-mortem revealed he died from a serious head injury, with four bullet fragments discovered lodged in his brain.
At the memorial service, held on Wednesday, July 9, Kariuki was remembered as a peaceful, hardworking Kenyan. Mourners used the moment to call for accountability and an end to extrajudicial killings by police in the country.
Tension in Murang’a as Police Flood Road to Slain Vendor Boniface Kariuki’s Home
