Boniface Kariuki, the 27-year-old mask vendor who was shot by police during the June 25 protests, will be laid to rest today at his family home in Kangema, Murang’a County.
Kariuki succumbed to his injuries last week after spending two weeks in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Kenyatta National Hospital, where he was admitted following the fatal shooting. Doctors later declared him brain dead, ending a painful vigil for his family and friends.
During a requiem mass held at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi on Wednesday, mourners described Boniface as a hardworking, kind-hearted young man whose only crime was trying to earn a living.
Kariuki’s death has become symbolic of the growing public outrage over police brutality during recent nationwide demonstrations. His case is one among several that have sparked calls for an independent inquiry into the conduct of security forces.
Rights groups have condemned the use of live ammunition on unarmed civilians, urging the government to uphold the right to peaceful assembly and protect innocent bystanders.
As the country grapples with the aftermath of the protests, Kariuki’s burial is expected to draw a crowd of mourners, human rights activists, and local leaders, many of whom see his death as a tragic consequence of systemic failure.
Kariuki is survived by his mother, two younger siblings, and a fiancée. He had been saving to open his own shop.
