Burial of slain hawker set for July 11 as calls for justice mount

Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, a hawker who was shot by police in Nairobi CBD, will be buried on July 11, his family has said.

Emotions ran high during a prayer meeting held at Githunguri village in Kangema on Wednesday, where loved ones remembered him as a humble, hardworking youth who gave everything for his family.

Mwangi, who sold face masks in the CBD, had become the main provider for his three sisters.

“He supported us with the little he got. His life was full of promise,” said a relative during the prayers.

President William Ruto sent a donation of Sh1 million to support the family’s burial preparations.

Murang’a MP Betty Maina, who delivered the contribution, was joined by Kangema MP Peter Kihungi and Maragua MP Mary Wamaua. All three leaders pledged to stand with the family in their pursuit of justice.

The family, through spokesperson Abel Kinyanjui, called for the prosecution of the two police officers allegedly involved in Mwangi’s death.

“We are demanding murder charges. Boniface deserves justice,” he said.

MP Maina criticised the use of excessive force by police and urged the government to retrain officers to prevent future incidents.

“Murang’a MPs regret the incident and are working around the clock to ensure Mwangi gets justice,” she told mourners.

Kihungi called for long-term support for the family, highlighting Mwangi’s role in providing for his siblings.

“We appreciate that the government waived the hospital bill of Sh800,000, and we are now focused on giving our brother a decent sendoff,” he said.

Clergy and residents who attended the prayers spoke about Mwangi’s kindness and how deeply he cared for his family.

Reverend Mercy Wangu and Beatrice Wairimu urged the government to ensure that strained relations between the police and the youth are addressed.

“Let’s forge a relationship with the youth, and those in authority should listen to the voices of the youth to avoid chaos in the future,” said Wangu.

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Wairimu added that even though Mwangi earned little from hawking, he never hesitated to share it with his family.

As the burial date approaches, the family is preparing to lay their son to rest, but their demand remains firm, those responsible must be held accountable.