Chaos broke out on Wednesday night after police officers lobbed tear gas at mourners holding a candlelit vigil in memory of slain mask vendor Boniface Kariuki.
Videos seen by Kenyans.co.ke showed mourners gathering along Mondlane Street at Imenti House, where Kariuki was shot last month, with lit candles in tribute to Kariuki's life before they were dispersed by police officers.
Clouds of white tear gas smoke filled the air as some of the mourners dispersed, although others braved the interruption. In fact, one was heard shouting, "We are used to that."
The vigil had been held ahead of Kariuki's funeral, which will be held on Friday, July 11.
It had been held just hours after friends and family held a requiem mass for Kariuki at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi to celebrate his short life. He was 24 years old when he passed.
An unarmed Kariuki was shot at point-blank range by a police officer during the June 17 protests, which he had attended to sell face masks to the protesters.
The chilling ordeal, which was caught on camera, soon sparked public outrage as Kariuki fought for his life at the Intensive Care Unit of the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Ironically, the protests had been organised to call for justice over the death of blogger-cum-teacher Albert Ojwang, who had passed on in police custody just a few
The public uproar led to the arrest of the two police officers who were captured on camera harassing Kariuki before one shot him. The case is still ongoing.
Almost two weeks after he was shot, he succumbed to his injuries on Monday, June 30, after being declared brain-dead just a day prior.
A bullet-like object suspected to be rubber had been removed from his skull during an emergency surgery conducted shortly after his arrival at KNH.
Speaking after the death, the family decried the high hospital bill, which had risen to over Ksh3.5 million, seeking public help in clearing the bill.
A visit to the family in Murang'a County by politicians in the region presented a Ksh1 million donation from President William Ruto to fund the funeral.
