Nairobi, July 10- Police fired tear gas at mourners during a candlelight vigil for Boniface Kariuki on Wednesday night, disrupting a peaceful gathering on Mondlane Street near Imenti House where Kariuki was shot last month. Despite the chaos, some mourners remained defiant, shouting, “We are used to that.”
The vigil came ahead of Kariuki’s funeral on Friday, July 11. Earlier that day, a requiem mass was held at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi to honor the 24 year old.
Kariuki, a mask vendor, was unarmed when he was shot at close range by a police officer during the June 17 protests in Nairobi’s CBD. He had joined the demonstrations to sell masks. The incident, caught on camera, sparked public outrage. He was admitted to the ICU at Kenyatta National Hospital and died on June 30 after being declared brain dead.
The protests were originally held to demand justice for Albert Ojwang, who died in police custody. Two officers involved in Kariuki’s shooting were later arrested, and the case is ongoing.
Following Kariuki’s death, his family appealed for help with a Ksh3.5 million hospital bill. Murang’a leaders presented a Ksh1 million donation from President William Ruto to support funeral expenses.
