Boniface Kariuki: Mum of Mask Vendor Inconsolable as Requiem Mass Kicks Off in Nairobi
- Boniface Kariuki died on Moi Avenue in CBD after he was shot by a policeman who found him trying to sell masks during an ongoing demo
- The young man was taken to the KNH but died despite the doctors' spirited efforts to save his life
- At his requiem mass, his mother was shattered, and she could not even stand to sing as the rest did during the mass
Nairobi, Kenya: The body of Boniface Kariuki, a mask vendor who died after he was shot on Moi Avenue, is now in church for his requiem mass, and his mother was inconsolable during the mass.
Source: Facebook
Kariuki had gone to the city centre to make some money selling masks at a major demonstration planned to decry the death of blogger Albert Ojwang.
How much did Kariuki's family pay?
He was accosted by two young policemen who beat him up, and just as he was about to leave, one of them turned and shot him in the head. Good Samaritans took him to the Kenyatta National Hospital, but sadly, he succumbed to the injuries.
After the family was notified of the young man's death, they were also slapped with a KSh 3.6 million bill, which made their grief even bigger because they did not have any money.
The death of the young mask vendor stunned the entire nation, and many people called out the policeman, Klinzy Barasa, who carried out the heinous act. He has since been taken to court over the death, and the case is ongoing.
Source: Facebook
How was Boniface Kariuki's requiem mass?
On July 9, 2025, the body of the young trader was wheeled into the church very slowly, and as the procession moved to the front, his mother was inconsolable and could not even make it to the front of the church.
She took a turn and went straight to her seat, where she started weeping softly and that is how she carried on during the mass. At some point, two of Kariuki's sisters wept alongside their mother, and as the service started, they were seen quietly wiping tears.
What was Eric Omondi's message in church?
When the procession reached the front of the church, it emerged that many people who attended were also in pain. The presence of comedian Eric Omondi and a smattering of other activists draped in the Kenyan flag also touched many people.
When he was called to make his speech, Omondi went to the altar, shared that he had brought masks along, and then started sharing with the others.
"This was what he was wearing when he died," he said.
Kenyans react to the video:
Sammie Sammie:
"Ohh Nooo 🙏 God feels all these tears...it isn't in vain."
Vivianne Glory:
"Another day cutting onions with strangers 😭💔."
Edward Kibet:
"Here it's always the immediate family that bears the loss.."
William Omache:
"Gen Z knows everything bana they know how they do their thing Eric Omondi is just their for PR."
Kiengei says Kariuki was JCM member
In another story, Bishop Muthee Kiengei revealed that he was caught off guard when he learnt that Kariuki was a member of his church.
According to Kiengei, he only learnt that a member had been shot by the police, but at the time, he didn't know that it was his member.
The preacher shared that he would be presiding over the burial of the young man whose death caused so much heartache.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
