Boniface Kariuki: Outrage as Ex-Spokesman Suggests Hawker Abused Policeman Before Being Shot
- Former police spokesman Charles Owino has come under fire for suggesting Boniface Kariuki provoked the officer who shot him
- Owino alleged that the 22-year-old mask vendor had insulted the police officers moments before they fired at him
- Kenyans have blasted his remarks as insensitive and an attempt to justify police brutality, with many demanding accountability, not excuses
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Kenyans have reacted with outrage following remarks by former police spokesperson Charles Owino, who appeared to justify the shooting of mask hawker Boniface Kariuki.
Source: UGC
During a studio interview at Citizen TV, Owino suggested that the young man had insulted the officer moments before being shot.
Charles Owino's sentiments about Boniface Kariuki
He went on to defend the officer, saying he was a 24-year-old with less than two years on the force and had been issued rubber bullets, not live ammunition, but had “misused” them in the heat of the moment.
“If you listen closely to the clip of Boniface, the man who was selling masks when he was shot, you’ll hear him abusing the policeman,” Owino claimed. “You know what may happen when you abuse such a young boy."
Owino's comments sparked immediate backlash online as many Kenyans accused him of victim-blaming and attempting to justify police brutality.
The concern hinges on the fact that excusing the shooting of an unarmed civilian over alleged verbal provocation sets a dangerous precedent.
This is because police officers are trained professionals, not vigilantes, which means they are expected to uphold the law and not react emotionally.
Source: Facebook
Social media reactions
Social media was flooded with angry reactions, memes, and calls for Owino to apologise and for authorities to hold the officer accountable.
John Gitau:
"What? The cameraman was like 100 meters away, so Charles Owino was the only one who heard Boniface speak? Number two, he was shot at the back of the head while walking away."
Mpendwa Adrian:
“We know kids are on midterm, but can you stop bringing cartoon characters to the Breakfast Show!”
Activist Ernest Mukwabi:
“When the unemployed person needs a job, he has to congratulate the employer. Even if he is lame, he has to shower praises on how fast he is—faster than Usain Bolt.”
For many, Owino’s remarks have only added insult to injury, reigniting public fury over the growing list of victims of police brutality.
Boniface Kariuki declared brain dead
Meanwhile, Kariuki remains in critical condition at Kenyatta National Hospital despite undergoing several surgeries.
The most heartbreaking bit about his case is that he was officially declared brain dead even as his bill hit KSh 4 million.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) maintains justice will be served, but trust in the process remains low among many Kenyans, especially following years of unresolved cases involving police violence.
Facts about Boniface Kariuki shooting
- Boniface Kariuki was standing outside Imenti House selling masks when two police officers accosted and shot him in the head.
- His father, John Kariuki, painfully recounted the moment he watched the chilling video of his being shot.
- The two police officers implicated in the shooting incident were arrested and arraigned in court, but the verdict on their fate is yet to be given.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
