Boniface Kariuki: Police Officer Duncan Kiprono Freed, Klinzy Barasa Faces Murder Trial
- The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has approved a murder charge against Police Constable Klinzy Barasa
- Barasa is accused of shooting Boniface Kariuki, a hawker who succumbed to the gunshot injury while on treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital
- PC Duncan Kiprono, who was with Barasa during the attack on the hawker, was set free after investigations absolved him
Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Police constable Klinzy Barasa will now face a murder charge after the killing of Boniface Kariuki, a mask vendor.
Source: UGC
The officer was in the company of PC Duncan Kiprono during the attack on the hawker during protests in Nairobi on June 17.
How PC Klinzy Barasa landed himself in trouble
In a viral, low-quality video that captured the horrific moment, Barasa, who was in uniform, was seen clobbering Kariuki before opening fire at his head at close range and taking off immediately.
The hawker dropped to the ground unconscious and bleeding, onlookers rushing to save and rush him to the Kenyatta National Hospital.
Kiprono was seen to restrain himself as the colleague went to the climax of his lethal attack on the unarmed hawker.
On Thursday, July 10, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) approved the murder charge against Barasa.
Justice Kanyi Kimondo directed that Barasa, 32, be detained at the Nairobi Remand Prison ahead of his mental assessment and later trial.
He is slated for plea taking on July 28.
Kiprono was absolved after investigations cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Kariuki died on June 30 after a fortnight of confinement in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at KNH.
The 22-year-old had earlier been confirmed to be brain-dead.
Kariuki was selling face masks to protesters in Nairobi when he encountered the rogue officer.
Medics at KNH confirmed that the young man was injured in the brain after rubber rounds fired by the suspect pierced through his head.
The incident sparked another round of public rage, given that the protesters were on the streets to protest another incident of police brutality following the killing of blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody.
Source: UGC
Following Kariuki's incident, Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja sanctioned the interdiction of Barasa and Kiprono, who were subsequently arrested and arraigned.
When will Boniface Kariuki be buried?
Meanwhile, the late Kariuki will be laid to rest on Friday, July 11.
A memorial service in his honour was held in Nairobi's All Saints Cathedral on Wednesday, July 9.
The deceased's mother, Susan Njeri, recounted warning him against going to the streets on the fateful day.
In her heartfelt tribute read on her behalf, Njeri was pained that her firstborn child had to die in such a painful circumstance.
She mourned; " "I loved you so much as my first son and my heir. Rest in peace, my son."
President William Ruto had earlier shared in the grief of the family, donating KSh 1 million for burial expenses.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
