Police Officer Charged with Murder as Protest Victim Boniface Kariuki Buried in Murang’a
Boniface Kariuki, the mask vendor who was shot in the head during anniversary anti finance protests in Nairobi on June 25, is being laid to rest today in Kangema, Murang’a County. His burial came just a day after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) approved murder charges against Police Constable Klinzy Masinde Barasa.
The late Boniface Kariuki was struck at close range by a bullet during a police operation aimed at dispersing demonstrators in the central business district. He was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital in critical condition, where he underwent surgery but never regained consciousness. He remained in the Intensive Care Unit for two weeks and was later declared brain dead.
A postmortem conducted by government pathologists confirmed the cause of death as severe head trauma. Four bullet fragments were recovered from his brain during the examination.
Barasa, who was identified through an internal investigation, will face trial following the DPP’s decision to pursue criminal accountability for the shooting. His co-accused, Officer Duncan Kiprono, has been released without charge.
At Kariuki’s requiem mass held Wednesday at the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi, mourners described the 28-year-old as hardworking and peaceful. Family members and civil rights groups called for justice, condemning what they termed a pattern of excessive force by police during protests.
“This country cannot continue to bury young people killed for speaking out,” one family representative said during the service. “We want justice, not only for Boniface, but for every life lost unlawfully.”
The June 25 demonstrations were part of a nationwide movement marking the anniversary of the anti-finance bill 2024, which had drawn large crowds across the capital. Human rights observers have documented multiple cases of police aggression during the protests.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) launched a parallel probe into the incident and handed its findings to the DPP late last month, paving the way for charges.
The late Boniface Kariuki sold face masks and phone accessories in downtown Nairobi, was the sole provider for his younger siblings. His family now hopes the criminal case will not only secure justice but also serve as a warning against future police misconduct.
Barasa is expected to appear in court next week for formal plea-taking.
About the Author
