Police officers deployed in Murangá County during the burial ceremony of Boniface Kariuki on July 11, 2025/SCREENSHOT
A heavy police presence was witnessed at the burial of 22-year-old mask seller Boniface Kariuki in Murang’a County on Saturday.
The deployment appeared to be a precautionary move following the chaos at Albert Ojwang’s burial, where mourners set Mawego Police Station ablaze.
Kariuki was shot at close range by a police officer during the June 17 protests in Nairobi. He was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital and admitted to the ICU, but succumbed to his injuries on June 30 at 3:15 p.m.
Family, friends, and members of the public gathered at Kenyatta University Funeral Home earlier in the day to view his body.
Mourners stood in small groups, some queuing silently to pay their respects. Others broke down in tears. His mother lay on the ground, inconsolable, as others tried to comfort her.
A few mourners carried the Kenyan flag, symbolising mourning and solidarity.
Boniface’s body was later transported to Murang’a for burial.
Murang’a County Government mourned him in a statement describing him as a humble and unarmed hawker whose life was cut short by what it termed excessive police force.
“Boniface… was tragically shot by police officers in Nairobi. He had been receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital, where we hoped for his recovery, but sadly, he has since passed away,” the statement read.
