Just hours after laying her beloved father to rest, actress Jackie Matubia was thrust into another wave of sorrow following news of a police shooting that left a young man critically injured. On Tuesday, June 17, Jackie had gathered with close friends and family in Gatundu, Kiambu County, to pay final respects to her late father, Pastor David Mwangi, who had succumbed to cancer. The ceremony was marked by grief and reflection as mourners celebrated the life of the man of God.
While Jackie and her family were in mourning, chaos was simultaneously unfolding in Nairobi’s Central Business District. A peaceful protest quickly turned violent after clashes erupted between demonstrators, police, and disruptive goons. The tension led to multiple injuries, among them a harrowing case involving Boniface Kariuki, a hawker who was shot in the head at close range just outside Imenti House.
News of the shooting reached Jackie soon after the burial. She took to social media to express her devastation, posting, “Am from burying my dad coming back to such! Someone’s dad.” Her words conveyed raw emotion—shock, frustration, and helplessness—capturing the grim reality many Kenyans are grappling with. Her grief was not just personal but national, mourning a country where even a moment to breathe is constantly interrupted by tragic news.
Jackie’s reaction resonated with thousands online. The comment section of her post was flooded with messages of empathy, prayers, and shared sorrow. Many echoed her sentiments, noting how heavy the atmosphere in the country felt. Some described it as a spiritual attack, calling for collective prayer and fasting, while others urged for action and justice. The unity in grief underscored a growing sense of urgency and fatigue among citizens tired of impunity and senseless brutality.
Amid the outpouring of emotion, messages of support continued to pour in. Users sent their condolences to Jackie for her father’s passing while also praising her courage in still standing with fellow Kenyans during such a difficult time. Many acknowledged how difficult it must be to carry personal pain while witnessing another family being torn apart by violence.
Meanwhile, Boniface Kariuki’s condition took a hopeful turn. Initially presumed dead, he survived the near-fatal shooting thanks to swift medical intervention. After hours of surgery, doctors stabilized him, offering a sliver of relief to his loved ones and supporters following the ordeal.
His father, Jonah Kariuki, recounted the horror of seeing a video of his son being shot. Realizing the man lying motionless on the ground was his child broke him. He couldn’t understand what wrong his son had committed. According to him, Boniface had always been a law-abiding, hardworking individual doing his best to make ends meet through honest hustle.
This tragic sequence of events reflects a deeper problem many Kenyans continue to protest against—police brutality and the erosion of public safety. Jackie Matubia’s story, layered with grief upon grief, became symbolic of a broader cry across the nation: a desperate plea for justice, peace, and healing.
