Police Officer Who Shot Boniface Kariuki To Face Murder Charges
However, his co-accused, Duncan Kiprono—who was photographed alongside him during the disturbing, widely filmed incident—has been released.
Marvin Chege 
Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Igonga has filed murder charges against Police Constable Klinzy Masinde Baraza over the fatal shooting of Boniface Kariuki Mwangi during the June 17, 2025 protests in Nairobi’s CBD.
Igonga stated that after investigations were concluded and sufficient evidence gathered, Baraza would face prosecution for the killing of the mask vendor, who is scheduled to be buried later this week.
However, his co-accused, Duncan Kiprono—who was photographed alongside him during the disturbing, widely filmed incident—has been released.
Screengrab of Police Constable Klinzy (Clinton) Barasa Masinde, the police officer who was found to have shot Eli Joshua at Nairobi CBD on June 17, 2025. /VIRAL TEA KE
As Kenyans demonstrated on June 17, 2025 for justice for Albert Ojwang, who died in a police cell, the two police officers were caught on camera harassing Kariuki before one of them shot him at close range, leaving him unconscious.
The viral video captured Mwangi lying on the ground, bleeding, as alarmed protesters rushed to help him. He was initially taken to Bliss Medical Center, where he was given emergency first aid while waiting for an ambulance.
He was then transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) in Nairobi, but despite efforts to save him, he did not survive.
Kariuki, who had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at KNH, died at 3:15 p.m. on Monday, June 30 — nearly two weeks after the shooting.
His death sparked widespread outrage from human rights groups and the public, not only because he was unarmed, but also due to the irony that the protest was meant to highlight the same police brutality that ultimately claimed his life.
The duo were taken into custody shortly after the shooting and appeared before the Milimani Law Courts on June 19.
During the hearing, the judge approved a joint request by the prosecution and defence to detain them for 15 days to allow the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to carry out further investigations.
The two officers were attached to Kileleshwa Police Station in Nairobi and had been deployed from there during the chaotic scenes of the incident.
Meanwhile, Kariuki will be buried at his family home in Kangema, Murang'a County, after a requiem mass held on Wednesday at the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi.
