- Boniface Kariuki, 27, is to be buried today in Kangema, Murang’a County.
- He died after two weeks in the ICU following a police shooting during the June protests.
- Mourners hailed him as a hardworking, peace-loving young man.
- His death has become a powerful symbol of police brutality in Kenya.
- Human rights groups continue to demand justice and accountability.
Today, the body of Boniface Kariuki will be laid to rest at his family’s homestead in Kangema, Murang’a County. The 27-year-old, who sold face masks on Nairobi’s streets, became a national headline after he was shot by police during the June anti-government protests.
He had been admitted to the ICU at Kenyatta National Hospital with severe injuries. Doctors later declared him brain dead, marking the end of a two-week emotional rollercoaster for his loved ones.
A requiem service held at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi drew an emotional crowd on Wednesday. Friends and family remembered Boniface as a humble, driven young man who worked hard to support his family.
“He had big dreams and a kind heart,” one mourner said. “He was not violent. He wasn’t rioting. He was just trying to survive.”
Boniface’s death has since become a painful reminder of the dangers many innocent Kenyans face during protests. Rights groups have cited his case as one of many that prove a pattern of excessive force by security officers.
Several civil society organisations have renewed calls for an independent investigation into police conduct, especially the use of live bullets on unarmed civilians.
Kariuki was the eldest child in his family and a key breadwinner. He is survived by his mother, two younger siblings, and a fiancée. He had been saving up to open his shop, a dream now buried with him.
His burial is expected to be attended by hundreds, including human rights activists and local leaders. Many say his death should not be in vain.
