Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has donated over Ksh150,000 to assist the family of Boniface Kariuki, a young mask hawker who was shot during protests in Nairobi CBD on June 17, 2025.

The 22-year-old hawker was shot in the head at close range by a police officer during the protests and succumbed to his injuries on June 30, 2025, after being declared brain dead and spending two weeks in Kenyatta National Hospital’s ICU.

The family had sought for financial support from Kenyans stating that the hospital bill had surpassed Ksh 3 million. This is after it was revealed that they had been defrauded of Sh200,000 by a fraudster who falsely claimed could assist with treatment logistics.

Luckily, in a statement on 30 June 2025, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced a complete waiver of medical bills for those injured during the nationwide protests on June 17 and 25, 2025 including the outstanding bill of the late Mr. Boniface Kariuki, which stood at Ksh 815,805 at the time of his passing.

While attending Kariuki’s autopsy at the Nairobi Funeral Home, the family met a team linked to former politician Mike Sonko.

The team quickly connected them to Sonko through a phone call, he was deeply moved by their story and immediately offered his support.

“The family looked somehow burdened by the huge funeral costs to grant the late Boniface a decent send-off. They requested for our support, and as usual, we didn’t hesitate to step in and offer our support,” Sonko posted on his Instagram.

During the phone conversation with the family, Sonko offered to cover both transport and medical-related burial costs.

He promised to provide a modern hearse, a white casket, a burial suit and his medical personnel to assist with the funeral arrangements.

He also gave the family Ksh150,000 to support the family with food and other expenses adding to the Ksh 100,000 they had already raised.

The burial has been scheduled on July 11, 2025, at his rural home in Kangema, Murang’a County.