Chaos broke out on Wednesday night July 10 after police officers lobbed tear gas at mourners holding a candlelit vigil in memory of slain mask vendor Boniface Kariuki.
Videos shared online showed mourners gathering along Mondlane Street at Imenti House, where Kariuki was shot last month, with lit candles in tribute to Kariuki’s life before they were dispersed by police officers.
Clouds of white tear gas smoke filled the air as some of the mourners dispersed, although others braved the interruption.
Tear gas lobbed during candlelit in memory of the late Boniface Kariuki. Photo: Courtesy.
The candlelit vigil had been held ahead of Kariuki’s funeral, which will be held on Friday, July 11.
Notably, it had been held just hours after friends and family held a requiem mass for Kariuki at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi to celebrate his short life.
The late Kariuki was 24 years old when he passed.
The mask vendor was shot at point-blank range by a police officer during the June 17 protests, which he had attended to sell face masks to the protesters.
The shooting which was caught on camera sparked public outrage as Kariuki fought for his life at the Intensive Care Unit of the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Days after he was shot, he succumbed to his injuries on Monday, June 30, after being declared brain-dead just a day prior.
