Aasai

An emotional farewell in Kangema, Murang’a County, saw an outpouring of pain and grief at Boniface Kariuki's funeral. pic.twitter.com/iaEmVEoh6e

— TheStarKenya (@TheStarKenya) July 11, 2025

During the service, grieving mourners carried flags and demanded justice for the fallen mask vendor. The somber ceremony, held in Kangema, Muranga County, was marked by poignant moments as relatives, friends, and community members visibly expressed their grief and resolve. The presence of flags and the vocal calls for accountability underscored a collective insistence that those responsible for his death must face consequences.

Police arrived early near Kangema ahead of Boniface Kariuki’s burial. Officers armed with batons were stationed at the Kangema junction as mourners began gathering.

On June 17, 2025, during demonstrations in Nairobi’s Central Business District sparked by the killing of blogger Albert Ojwang in custody, Boniface Mwangi Kariuki—a civilian hawking face masks—was shot at point‑blank range by police officers while walking away. The incident was caught on camera and quickly spread across social media, igniting widespread outrage at police brutality

He was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital in critical condition, spent 12 days on life support, underwent two surgeries, and incurred hospital bills reaching up to KSh 2.3 million . On June 29 doctors declared him brain-dead, and he passed away the following day at 3:15 pm on June 30, 2025 

Accountability & Legal Proceedings

The National Police Service quickly interdicted two officers, Klinzy Barasa Masinde and Duncan Kiprono, who were identified from video footage. They were arrested and charged with murder; they appeared in court in early July, with a plea hearing scheduled for July 28 

Civil society and the ICJ-Kenya have called for an independent investigation into the shooting and the broader use of force during protests

His burial took place on July 11 in Kangema, Murang’a County. Amid tight security—deployed in the wake of violence at previous funerals—mourners carried his flag‑draped white coffin, surrounded by chanting youth 

At the graveside, his distraught mother Susan Njeri Kariuki broke down, fainting during the service. Ushers and clergy had to take over as she was unable to deliver her tribute

Among the mourners was Kalonzo Musyoka, who criticized President Ruto’s “shoot‑to‑break‑legs” rhetoric and condemned the regime’s silence on the tragedy

Kariuki’s death contributed to an escalating national discourse on:

• Police brutality and unchecked violence against demonstrators, especially civilians.
• The government’s hardline directives, including President Ruto’s controversial statement urging police to “shoot to break legs” 
• Youth empowerment: #MaskFriday initiatives, where Kenyans wore masks in solidarity, became a powerful symbol of resistance
• Legal reforms: Activists and MPs are pushing for strict enforcement of constitutional rights and independent oversight of police firearm use