Boniface Kariuki: Slain Hawker’s Mother Rejects Claims He Worshipped at Kiengei’s JCM Church

Fresh controversy has erupted following claims that the late hawker Boniface Kariuki was a member of Bishop Muthee Kiengei’s Jesus Christ Compassion Ministry (JCM) Church, with his mother strongly dismissing the reports.

Speaking during a recent visit by TikTokers and supporters who travelled to her rural home in Kangema, Murang’a County, Kariuki’s grieving mother insisted that her son did not attend the popular church, contradicting earlier statements that linked him to the congregation.

The issue resurfaced amid renewed public debate over the role of church leaders and politicians in the wake of Kariuki’s tragic death. The young hawker was shot at close range by a police officer during anti-government protests in Nairobi while selling face masks to demonstrators. He later succumbed to his injuries at Kenyatta National Hospital, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed calls for police accountability.

Kariuki’s death became a symbol of the deadly crackdown on protesters, with many Kenyans demanding justice and reforms within the security sector. His funeral, which was attended by activists, politicians, and clergy, also drew attention to the intersection of religion and politics, especially after Bishop Kiengei led the burial rites and publicly referred to him as a church member.

However, his mother’s latest remarks have cast doubt on those claims, reigniting online debate and raising questions about how the young hawker’s story has been used in political and religious narratives.