Aasai

In a deeply emotional memorial service held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, comedian-turned-activist Eric Omondi led tributes for 22-year-old Boniface Kariuki, a humble face mask vendor who was fatally shot by police during recent anti-brutality protests in Nairobi. The service took place at the historic All Saints Cathedral and was attended by hundreds, including grieving family members, friends, fellow youth, and activists, all united by heartbreak and a shared call for justice.

Omondi, who has become a prominent voice against police violence, arrived dressed in all black, his face solemn and his message resonant. In a symbolic act that gripped mourners with both emotion and clarity, he distributed black face masks to attendees—mirroring the very item Boniface was selling when a police bullet ended his life.

“Albert Ojwang, tulimzika last week. Boniface Kariuki, tunamzika Friday. Next Saturday, tunazika yule mtoto. Enough is enough!” Omondi said passionately. His words struck a chord with the audience, many of whom have seen lives around them cut short by excessive police force. “As I finish, can someone help me pass this around? Vaa iyo mask to celebrate our brother. This is what he was selling. Let’s take a moment of silence,” he urged, as he invited the congregation to rise in unity and remembrance.

With everyone on their feet, Omondi led a moment of silence, the only sounds in the cathedral being soft sobs and the distant hum of Nairobi’s traffic. “Tusimame na tuvae mask, let us observe a moment of silence in honour of our brother Boniface Kariuki Mwangi,” he added, emphasizing the collective grief and solidarity.

The service, though somber, was also a moment of reflection, resilience, and resistance. On social media, Omondi later posted, “Today, we held a requiem mass for our brother Boniface Kariuki at All Saints Cathedral. We observed a minute of silence while wearing black masks to celebrate him. We stood and prayed with the family. May his soul rest in peace.”

Boniface Kariuki was shot in the head on June 17, 2025, during protests in Nairobi’s Central Business District. At the time, he was selling face masks—his primary source of income—when chaos broke out and police began using live bullets to disperse demonstrators. Boniface was struck and rushed to hospital, where he was placed on life support. For nearly two weeks, he clung to life before succumbing to his injuries. A post-mortem report revealed bullet fragments lodged in his brain, confirming that his death was not an accident, but a clear case of murder.

His killing occurred just days after the highly publicized death of Albert Omondi Ojwang on June 8. Ojwang had been arrested for allegedly defaming a senior police officer and later died in police custody. Authorities initially claimed he had committed suicide, but an independent autopsy revealed multiple injuries consistent with physical assault—particularly to his head and chest—suggesting foul play. His death ignited mass protests across the country, with citizens demanding justice and accountability.

It was during one of those nationwide demonstrations that Boniface was shot. His death has now become a painful emblem of the state’s alleged use of excessive force and disregard for human life. Activists argue that Boniface, like many other victims, was not part of any criminal activity. He was simply earning a living when he was gunned down.

The deaths of Ojwang and Kariuki have since sparked a resurgence of outrage, with civil society groups, religious leaders, and human rights organizations calling for a full investigation into the growing pattern of police killings. Many are also demanding urgent reforms within the National Police Service, including the prosecution of officers involved in extrajudicial executions.

Boniface’s funeral is scheduled for Friday, July 11, and is expected to draw a large crowd of mourners and activists. For Omondi and others in the movement, the fight for justice will not end with Boniface’s burial. “He died selling what he loved,” Omondi said. “We will not rest until every voice silenced by brutality is heard again—through us.”