Boniface Kariuki’s family has pushed back hard against claims linking him to Muthee Kiengei’s Jesus Compassion Ministries (JCM) Church months after his death. His mother says her son was never a member of the church and did not worship there, dismissing online narratives that he belonged to Kiengei’s congregation.
Kariuki was shot in the head by a police officer during protests in Nairobi’s central business district in June 2025 while selling masks to demonstrators. Videos of the unarmed hawker being shot sparked national outrage and calls for justice when he later died at Kenyatta National Hospital.
After his death, JCM lead preacher Muthee Kiengei publicly claimed Kariuki had ties to his church and presided over his burial in Murang’a County. That assertion resurfaced online following President William Ruto’s recent visit to the church in Ruiru, reigniting debate over the preacher’s role in Kariuki’s funeral and his political and spiritual messaging.
In a recent interview at Kariuki’s rural home, his mother said there was no truth to the claims. She said he never held a membership card, never attended services and that it was a cousin who arranged for the church to handle the burial without the family’s deeper involvement. She added that the local Anglican pastor advised her to allow JCM’s participation once the decision was made.
The grieving mother also expressed disappointment over unfulfilled promises of support after the funeral. She said Kiengei visited once but did not return to help the family as had been suggested publicly.
Kariuki’s death remains a flashpoint in discussions about police accountability and how public figures and institutions handle the legacy of victims of state violence. Calls for justice and clarity continue across social media and activist circles amid wider debates over the role of religious leaders in political and civic crises.