Ruto donates Sh1 million to Boniface Kariuki's family

Parents of Boniface Kariuki, the hawker who was shot by police in the head during demonstrations. [David Gichuru,Standard]

President William Ruto has donated Sh1 million to the family of slain hawker Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, even as the family continues to demand justice for their slain kin.

On Wednesday, a sombre mood engulfed Githunguri village in Kangema, as the family met for prayers and called for justice for their kin.

The family has set the burial date for July 11. President Ruto, through Murang'a MP Betty Maina, donated the amount to support the family in the burial arrangements

The family, through its spokesman Abel Kinyanjui, demanded murder charges be preferred against the two police officers implicated in the death of Mwangi, who was hawking masks in the Central Business District (CBD).

MPs led by the host Peter Kihungi, Mary Wamaua(Maragua), and Betty Maina (Murang’a) eulogised the deceased and pledged to support the family to seek justice. 

Maina called on the government to take the police for a refresher course to avoid the repetition of the excessive use of powers.

“Murang’a MPs regret the incident and are working around the clock to ensure Mwangi gets justice,” said Maina as he presented President Ruto’s donation.

Kihungi said the family should be empowered to raise revenue to replace the gains that were brought by the deceased to educate the three sisters.

“We appreciate that the government waived the hospital bill of Sh800,000, and we are now focused on giving our brother a decent sendoff,” said Kihungi.

Other residents, Rev Mercy Wangu Beatrice Wairimu, mourned the deceased as a person who was supportive to the family and had dreams of building a house for his parents.

The clergy appealed to the government to ensure that the relationship between the police and the public will not be affected by the incidents.

“Let's forge a relationship with the youth, and those in authority should listen to the voices of the youth to avoid chaos in the future,” she said.

Wairimu said the little he gained from the hawking business was shared with the family.