Githuguri Member of Parliament (MP) Gathoni Wamuchomba has taken a strong stance against former police spokesperson Charles Owino’s remarks that Boniface Kariuki, the slain hawker who was shot in the head during anti-police brutality protests in Nairobi, abused the officer.
Speaking to the press on Monday, June 30, 2025, Wamuchomba challenged Owino’s assertion that Kariuki abused the officer shortly before he was shot, noting that he is not in a position to defend the government since official records do not list him as a spokesperson.
The vocal lawmaker further accused Owino of distorting facts to justify what she described as propaganda, questioning his motives:
“Who gave Charles Owino the job to speak for the government? Sijui alipewa kazi nani ya kutetea serikali because in the official records he is not the government’s spokesperson, alienda kwa TV akasema, Ohh, huyo kijana alishotiwa na police kwa sababu alimutukana,” Wamuchomba said.
“What kind of parent are you? Are you coming to justify on national television lies and propaganda?”
She added that the former police spokesperson’s remark is insulting to the Kenyan people, to Kariuki’s parents and to the youth who are upset.
“Mtoto atakama amekutukana, does he qualify to be shot? Can we sober up? Can we be careful with what we are saying in this country because we are continuously eroding the trust, and such a person is coming to television live to talk about mtoto alimutukana? Hiyo ni kututukana sisis kama Wakenya, tukukana hawa wazazi na kutukana vijana ambao wamekasirika,” she added.
In addition, the MP also demanded that Owino stop spreading propaganda, adding that if he wished to remain relevant, he should find an appropriate platform rather than use a highly sensitive case involving a fatally shot young man to justify his arguments.
“I want to call him out to stop spreading propaganda, and if he wants to be relevant, he should look for the right platform to be relevant, but not use a very sensitive case like this one of a fatally shot young man to justify your case,” Wamuchomba warned.
Charles Owino on police shooting
Wamuchomba’s criticism comes after the former police spokesperson claimed that Kariuki insulted the officer who fired the shot.
Speaking during an interview on June 30, 2025, Owino, while condemning the shooting, stated that the police who shot Kariuki acted inappropriately, despite being provoked by verbal abuse, noting that a keen observation of the video showing the hawker’s altercation with two police officers revealed that he insulted the officer.
In addition, the MP also demanded that Owino stop spreading propaganda, adding that if he wished to remain relevant, he should find an appropriate platform rather than using a highly sensitive case involving a fatally shot young man to justify his arguments.
“It was a very simple exchange. If you listen to that clip closely, you will hear that boy abusing the policeman’s mother. But you are an officer, you must have restraint and shoot him with a rubber bullet. You can see what it has caused to the image of the police so far,” Owino said.
He further added that the age of the officer and inexperience may have played a role in the fatal error.
“So, such a young boy, 24 years old, you abuse him, you know what may happen,” he added.
“I’ve not said it’s provocation, but these things happen. He was not given live bullets, just a rubber bullet. It’s only that he hit that boy at a very close range.”
