A wave of grief swept through Githunguri village in Kangema as family and friends of Boniface Mwangi Kariuki, the hawker who died after a police confrontation in Nairobi’s CBD, gathered for a prayer meeting on Wednesday.

President William Ruto donated Sh1 million to support the family’s burial plans, as pressure mounts on authorities to charge the police officers linked to Mwangi’s death.

The President’s donation was delivered by Murang’a MP Betty Maina, who joined her colleagues Peter Kihungi (Kangema) and Mary Wamaua (Maragua) in mourning the deceased. The family has set Mwangi’s burial for July 11.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Abel Kinyanjui said justice would only be served if the two officers involved were charged with murder. He described Mwangi as a hardworking young man who sold face masks in the city to support his three sisters.

“Murang’a MPs regret the incident and are working around the clock to ensure Mwangi gets justice,” said Maina while presenting the donation from the President. She also urged the government to take officers through refresher training to prevent further cases of excessive force.

Kihungi emphasized the need to support Mwangi’s family in the long term, saying they had lost their main breadwinner. “We appreciate that the government waived the hospital bill of Sh800,000, and we are now focused on giving our brother a decent sendoff,” he said.

The emotional ceremony also drew residents and clergy who remembered Mwangi for his resilience and generosity despite his modest earnings.

Reverend Mercy Wangu and Beatrice Wairimu described him as a caring young man who supported his family with the little he earned from hawking.

Wairimu called on the authorities to strengthen the relationship between police and the youth. “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.

The family continues to seek justice as the pain of losing their son remains fresh, calling for accountability and reforms to prevent similar tragedies in the future.