Former Mukurweini constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Kabando wa Kabando has urged the family of the slain face mask hawker, Boniface Kariuki, to reject President William Ruto’s Ksh1 million donation.
In a statement shared via his official X account on Thursday, July 3, 2025, Kabando wa Kabando argued that accepting Ruto’s donation would undermine the family’s dignity, adding that they should instead open a Paybill which Kenyans can contribute to in support of the burial arrangements.”
The former lawmaker went on to say that the move is in support of the campaign against extrajudicial killings.
“To support the #StopExtraJudicialKillings campaign, parents of Boniface Kariuki, a face-mask hawker killed by a rogue policeman’s bullet #June25th, should reject Ruto’s sh1 million “donation’ ostensibly for burial. If they open a paybill, we’ll do the necessary upkeep,” he said.
Ruto’s donation
Kabando’s call came a day after Ruto donated Ksh 1million to the deceased’s family to support them with the funeral arrangements, even as the family continues to demand justice for him.
The donation was presented by Kangema MP, Peter Irungu Kihungi, who visited the family on July 2, 2025, and conveyed the president’s condolences and gave out the contributions.
“On behalf of President William Samoei Ruto, we conveyed his condolences and his commitment to ensuring justice is served. The President also extended a contribution of Ksh1 million to support the family with funeral arrangements,” he said.
Kariuki’s death
the 22-year-old died on Monday, June 30, 2025, at 3:15 pm.
“I came to the hospital yesterday,” the grieving father said. “Then today we came again and found that his condition was still as it was yesterday. While we were outside, we were called back in and informed that at exactly 3:15 pm, he had passed away.”
According to Pathologist Bernard Midia and family pathologist Dr Peter Ndegwa, who conducted the postmortem examination, confirmed that Kariuki was shot at close range, with the bullet causing a severe head injury that proved fatal.
“We have come to the conclusion that the cause of death was a severe head injury due to a single gunshot. The brain is quite disturbed, and the chances of survival were minimal,” Dr Ndegwa said.
