Grieving Family Demands Justice Amid Global Attention to Viral Shooting Video
Nairobi, Kenya— The father of slain Nairobi mask vendor Boniface Kariuki Mwangi has expressed outrage and disbelief following the not guilty plea entered by Police Constable Klinzy Masinde Barasa, the officer accused of fatally shooting his son on June 17 outside Imenti House.
The emotional father, speaking to local reporters shortly after the court session, said the officer’s denial was an insult to justice—especially given that video footage of the shooting went viral, sparking widespread condemnation both locally and internationally.
“Anakataa kitu dunia mzima iliona,” he said in Kiswahili, meaning “He denies something the entire world saw.” The father questioned how someone caught on camera committing a crime could confidently plead not guilty in court.
The graphic footage, recorded by bystanders and circulated widely online, showed the officer shooting Kariuki at close range.
The video shocked Kenyans and drew sharp criticism from human rights groups, media outlets, and even international observers, reigniting long-standing concerns about police brutality in Kenya.
“Every Kenyan who watched that video saw what happened,” the father continued. “We don’t need a lawyer or a judge to tell us what our eyes witnessed.”
Barasa, 32, is charged with murder under Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code. He pleaded not guilty before Justice Kanyi Kimondo after being declared mentally fit to stand trial by government psychiatrist Dr. Priscila Makau.
His legal team filed for release on bond pending trial, but the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) opposed the application, citing the accused’s active status as a police officer and potential to interfere with witnesses. A lawyer for the Kariuki family backed the prosecution, urging the court to weigh the public’s interest and the family’s grief.
The court is expected to rule on the bond request in the coming days.
Activists have also called for a full review of police accountability systems and an overhaul of the National Police Service’s internal disciplinary structures.
As court proceedings continue, Boniface Kariuki’s family says they are determined to fight for justice—not just for their son, but for all victims of police abuse.
