On July 16, 2025, the inquest into the death of 29-year-old Rex Kanyike Masai, killed during anti-government protests in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD) in June 2024, resumed at the Milimani Law Courts. The hearing brought forth critical forensic and testimonial evidence, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding Masai’s fatal shooting during the youth-led demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024. A crime scene investigator confirmed that police fired live bullets, intensifying the ongoing pursuit of justice for Masai and raising broader questions about police conduct during the protests.

Crime Scene Investigator Paul Njihia took the stand as the first witness, presenting compelling forensic evidence. He testified that a damaged bullet recovered from the scene along Mama Ngina Street was confirmed through ballistic analysis to be a live round. Additionally, blood swabs collected at the scene matched Masai’s DNA, establishing that he was shot during the protests. Njihia supported his testimony with photographic evidence and a detailed sketch illustrating how the shooting unfolded, pinpointing the location where Masai was struck in the upper thigh, leading to his death from excessive bleeding before he could reach Bliss Hospital.

The forensic findings corroborated earlier accounts from witnesses, including ICT engineer Frederick Omondi, who previously testified that plainclothes police officers fired live ammunition into the crowd. Omondi described an officer dressed in a black cap, dark jacket, blue jeans, and white sports shoes discharging a pistol at the intersection of Mama Ngina Street and Wabera Street, near City Hall, around 6:50 PM on June 20, 2024.

Constable Isaiah Murangiri, a key figure implicated in the shooting, denied being present at the scene. During a tense courtroom session, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) presented CCTV footage, photographs, and phone data placing Murangiri near the InterContinental Hotel in Nairobi’s CBD at the time of the incident. The prosecution highlighted a distinctive Kenyan-art wristband and a birthmark on the officer in the images, allegedly matching Murangiri. However, he disputed the evidence, claiming he was off duty and never left his post at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). Murangiri further denied using his teargas launcher against demonstrators, asserting he only participated in a briefing of officers before the protests began.

The court also heard from Constable Isaiah Ndumba, another officer linked to the shooting, who similarly denied involvement. Despite photographic metadata and Safaricom cell data placing him at the scene, Ndumba maintained he was not present, adding complexity to the inquest as contradictions emerged in police testimonies.

Presiding Magistrate Geoffrey Onsaringo directed that all officers yet to testify provide statements to IPOA and ordered the production of certified police arms-movement logs for June 20, 2024, to trace the firearm used in Masai’s killing. The court’s insistence on these records reflects a determination to identify the responsible officer and establish accountability. The inquest was adjourned to July 17, 2025, at 2 PM, when additional witnesses, including officers in charge of Nairobi Central and Kamukunji police stations and the Central Police Station armourer, are expected to testify.

Previous hearings revealed disturbing accounts of police conduct during the protests. Laban Njoroge, a boda boda rider, testified that anti-riot police ignored pleas to assist an injured man, believed to be Masai, lying on the road. Njoroge recounted hearing officers dismissively say, “Let him die there,” as Masai writhed in pain. Njoroge himself was injured after being beaten by police alongside another protester, Mekatilili Mweru, after a security guard refused them shelter. These accounts paint a grim picture of police response, with reports of excessive force and indifference to the injured.

Former Nairobi Police Commander Adamson Bungei, now Director of Police Operations, and former Nairobi Central OCPD Doris Mugambi have also testified, both denying police involvement in the shooting. Bungei claimed no shots were fired by his unit, while Mugambi stated that no live ammunition was used, with all firearms accounted for. However, these claims conflict with forensic evidence and witness testimonies, fueling public skepticism about police accountability.

Masai’s death during the Gen Z protests, which erupted in over 18 Kenyan counties to oppose the Finance Bill 2024 and demand better governance, sparked widespread outrage. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), representing Masai’s family, vowed to pursue the case to its conclusion to prevent future instances of security forces using live ammunition on unarmed protesters. Lawyer Mwangi Chege emphasized that the right to protest is constitutionally protected, stating, “We will ensure that no security officer ever uses live ammunition on civilians exercising their rights to picket, protest, and associate.”

The inquest has drawn attention from human rights organizations, with calls for an independent investigation into police conduct. The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ-Kenya) and other groups have demanded accountability for the deaths of at least 60 protesters during the 2024 demonstrations, highlighting a pattern of police brutality. Masai’s mother, Gillian Munyao, condemned the use of live bullets on peaceful protesters, underscoring the personal toll of her son’s death.

The inquest into Masai’s killing coincides with other investigations into protest-related deaths, such as that of Boniface Kariuki, who was shot during the same demonstrations. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and IPOA continue to probe these incidents, with public pressure mounting for systemic reforms to address police impunity. Posts on social media platforms reflect ongoing public frustration, with many Kenyans demanding justice for Masai and other victims of protest violence.

As the inquest progresses, it remains a critical test of Kenya’s judicial system and its ability to hold security forces accountable. The outcome could set a precedent for how protest-related deaths are addressed, potentially reshaping the relationship between citizens and law enforcement in the country. For now, Masai’s family and supporters await further hearings, hoping for truth and justice in a case that has become emblematic of the broader struggle for accountability in Kenya.