Klinzy Barasa: Suspect in Murder of Hawker Boniface Kariuki Appears in Court Dejected
- While junior police officers act as per orders from their seniors, the burden of consequences is always theirs to bear when the law rears its head
- Police Constable Klinzy Barasa might not have been aware of this when he exceeded limits to allegedly shoot a Nairobi hawker during protests
- The DPP approved a murder charge against him, thrusting him into the indefinite run in the turbulent criminal justice system
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Police Constable Klinzy Barasa might not have anticipated run-ins with the law when he was filmed allegedly attacking a hawker during protests in Nairobi on June 17.
Source: UGC
The 32-year-old is now facing a murder charge approved by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) after investigations.
"It was stated that the particulars of the offence were that, on the 17th of June, 2025, outside Imenti House in Nairobi Central Business District, within Nairobi County, you had murdered Boniface Karauki Mwangi," Justice Kanyi Kimondo read the charges to him.
What next for Klinzy Barasa?
The suspect was walked into the dock, quiet and ready to comply, as his handlers uncuffed him before he took his seat before the judge.
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He sat there pensively, hooded, facing down, perhaps in deep thought as Justice Kimondo gave the orders.
In his first appearance in court last month, Barasa was in the company of his colleague, Police Constable Duncan Kiprono; he might have been comforted by that company.
But on Wednesday, July 9, the ODPP absolved Kiprono of any wrongdoing, leaving Barasa to stand the murder trial in loneliness.
Now, the interdicted officer's lifeline will be how his lawyers will mount their defence to challenge the state.
In the meantime, Justice Kimondo directed that Barasa be removed from police custody and be remanded at the Nairobi Police Remand in Industrial Area.
He also ordered the suspect to be subject to mental tests in either Mbagathi or Kenyatta National Hospitals, or any other appropriate facility, ahead of his plea taking on July 28.
How PC Barasa got himself in trouble
The officer was arrested on June 17 moments after allegedly opening fire at Kariuki, a hawker who was selling masks to protesters.
Source: UGC
Kenyans had taken to the streets to protest the murder of blogger Albert Ojwang while in police custody.
The deceased encountered Barasa and Kiprono near Imenti House, where they had been deployed to repulse protesters.
In a low-quality video that went viral on that day, the two officers were seen confronting Kariuki, who was only carrying the face masks he had been selling.
How PC Barasa allegedly attacked Kariuki
Kiprono appeared to clobber Kariuki with his teargas launcher, but Barasa escalated the attack with an alleged gunshot.
He seemingly opened fire on the hawker at close range; the victim dropped to the ground, bleeding and unconscious, with the officers taking off.
The astonished onlookers mistook Kariuki for dead.
They rushed to rescue him, and on noting he had minimal cardiac activity, they rushed him to a nearby health facility for first aid before rushing him to the Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment.
There, the medics strived to save him, but all was in vain, as he was declared to be brain-dead twelve days later.
The 22-year-old was later confirmed to have died on June 30, 13 days after the fatal attack by the police.
What did Boniface Kariuki's family say?
Kariuki's family was overwhelmed with emotions during their kin's memorial service at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi on Wednesday, July 9.
Kariuki's mother, Susan Njeri, fought back tears as the pain and reality of losing her only son cut through her skin like a sharp razor.
Family spokesperson Hannah Wanjiru read her emotional tribute as she listened pensively, feeling dejected and withdrawn.
She called for justice for her son, whom she noted had no intention to join the protests but was just trying to make a living for his family through vending masks.
She disclosed that she had cautioned Kariuki against joining the protesters that day, and he assured her that he would not go. That was the last conversation they had before she was later informed that he had been gunned down in Nairobi.
Masolo Mabonga, HOD Current Affairs and Politics, UPdated this article with details on what Boniface Kariuki's family said during his memorial mass.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
