Police Constable Klinzy Masinde Barasa has denied allegations of murdering street vendor Boniface Kariuki Mwangi, an incident that sparked public outrage after it occurred outside Nairobi’s Imenti House on June 17, 2025.
Appearing before the court on Monday, Barasa entered a plea of not guilty following a mental health assessment that cleared the way for trial. The report, issued by government psychiatrist Priscila Makau on July 21, confirmed that the officer is mentally fit to stand trial.
Barasa faces a murder charge under Section 203 as read with Section 204 of Kenya’s Penal Code.
In court, his defense team applied for his release on bond. However, the prosecution strongly opposed the request, pointing to an affidavit it had filed detailing its reasons for denying bond, including concerns over interference with witnesses or public safety.
The family of the late Boniface Kariuki, through their legal representative, backed the prosecution’s position, arguing that releasing Barasa on bond would be premature and potentially harmful to the integrity of the case.
The court is expected to rule on the bond application at a later date as the murder trial moves forward.
