Tears, tributes and calls for justice at Boniface Kariuki’s requiem mass
By Aloys Michael, July 9, 2025Emotions flowed freely on at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi, where mourners gathered to honour the life of Boniface Kariuki, the 29-year-old mask vendor who succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the June 25 protests.
The requiem mass was held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, and saw hundreds of youths join to pay tribute to the late mask vendor.
Family, friends, and supporters filled the sanctuary in a sombre ceremony marked by grief, resilience, and a call for accountability. Kariuki, described as a hardworking and kind-hearted young man, was shot by police while going about his daily work.
He spent days in the Intensive Care Unit at Kenyatta National Hospital before being pronounced brain dead and eventually passing away.
“It has been very difficult for us, but with God we know we are going to win,” a family member shared, holding back tears.
The family avoided recounting the harrowing details of his final moments, adding, “It was painful. We do not want to discuss more about how he was robbed of his life.”
They appealed to the public for continued financial support to help them meet the cost of laying their loved one to rest.
“We are yet to reach the target, and we are requesting the well-wishers to come through so that one of the burdens can lessen,” they said.
Call for justice
Also present at the requiem mass were Starehe MP Amos Mwago and activist Eric Omondi, both of whom condemned the police’s use of excessive force during the nationwide protests. Mwago decried the normalisation of violence in public demonstrations.
“We cannot normalise bloodshed in our streets. Boniface was unarmed. He was just trying to earn a living,” Mwago said.
Omondi vowed to pursue justice through the courts, pledging to stand with Kariuki’s family until the perpetrators are held accountable.
“This cannot be the end. We will fight for Boniface,” he said.
In a symbolic act of remembrance, the family announced that a candlelight vigil would be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, evening at the exact spot where Kariuki was shot, a gesture to honour his life and call for peace.
His final journey will take place next Friday, when he will be laid to rest at his family home in Kangema, Murang’a County.