A section of Murang’a residents and leaders gathered for a candlelight vigil on Thursday night, demanding accountability from the National Police Service over the shooting of 22-year-old Boniface Mwangi Kariuki. The young hawker is currently fighting for his life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Kenyatta National Hospital after being shot in the head during protests held earlier in the week.
The demonstrations were sparked by public outrage over the death of teacher Albert Ojwang’, who died in police custody under unclear circumstances. Kariuki, who joined the protests, became one of the latest victims of what residents describe as excessive and unlawful use of force by police.
Beatrice Wairimu, a close family friend and neighbor in Karugia, Kangema sub-county, described Kariuki as a kind-hearted youth who was raised like her own son. “They lived and did almost everything together while growing up. Mwangi became like my son,” she said. She recounted the emotional moment when Kariuki’s mother, Susan Njeri, rushed to her in panic after learning about the shooting. “Our village filled with tears that morning,” Wairimu added.
Kariuki had taken up hawking in Nairobi alongside his father, Johna Kariuki, a veteran street vendor, after finishing high school in 2020. The proceeds from his small business went toward supporting his family.
Wairimu and other residents strongly condemned the police action, demanding that those responsible face swift and severe punishment. “Such officers should not be allowed to continue serving because they will end up hurting even more people,” she said.
Former Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau echoed these sentiments, criticizing the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa) for what he termed as a slow response to police brutality. “We can’t continue watching as Kenyans die at the hands of the people who should be protecting them,” Kamau said. “Ipoa is not doing enough.”
As Kariuki battles for his life, the community continues to call for justice and systemic reform in policing to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
