President William Ruto has donated Ksh1 million to the family of Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, the Nairobi hawker who died after being shot during the anti-government protests on June 17.
The donation was delivered on Wednesday by Murang’a MPs Betty Maina (Kandara), Mary Wamaua (Maragua), and Peter Irungu Kihungi (Kangema), who visited the family in Githunguri village to offer their condolences.
“It is a painful loss,” said MP Maina. “We mourn with the family and are working round the clock to make sure justice is served.”
Mwangi, well known for selling masks in Nairobi’s city centre, was shot at close range. He fought for his life at Kenyatta National Hospital’s ICU for nearly two weeks before dying on June 30 at 3:15 p.m.
“It is true he passed on more than an hour ago,” a KNH official confirmed. “The family will share further details.”
The government has since waived the family’s Ksh800,000 hospital bill, a move the family welcomed.
“We appreciate the waiver,” said MP Kihungi. “Now, our focus is on giving him a dignified send-off.”
The burial is scheduled for July 11, following a prayer gathering held by the family on July 2.
Despite the donation and support from local leaders, the family remains concerned about the slow pace of justice. They say they are still unable to formally record a police statement.
“We spent time with the family, listened to their pain, and assured them of our support,” said Kihungi. “We will not rest until justice is done.”
According to the family’s spokesperson, Abel Kinyanjui, two police officers linked to the shooting are in custody, but no murder charges have been filed yet.
“We want them charged with murder,” said Kinyanjui. “What happened to Boniface cannot go unanswered.”
Leaders and residents alike have praised Boniface as hardworking, kind, and committed to supporting his family.
“The little he made from hawking, he shared generously,” said Beatrice Wairimu, a local church member. “He helped his family survive.”
Rev Mercy Wangu, who also spoke during the family visit, called on the government to rebuild public trust in the police.
“We must listen to the youth and avoid turning every protest into a battlefield,” she said.
Maina echoed this in a heartfelt post on Facebook: “Boniface was just hustling to make an honest living. It is heartbreaking to lose such a life to police bullets.”
She added, “Our police must protect, not harm. We demand accountability.”
As Githunguri village prepares to lay Boniface to rest, his story has stirred emotions across the country becoming a symbol of the human cost of police force during protests.
