The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has accused the National Police Service (NPS) of failing to initiate investigations into the death of Rex Masai, who was fatally shot during the Gen Z protests in Nairobi.
Through lawyer David Tenge, IPOA told presiding magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo that the police had not initiated investigations into Masai’s death. The authority opposed attempts to close the inquest, saying there was still outstanding evidence that needed to be presented before the court.
The remarks were made during the ongoing inquest seeking to establish the circumstances surrounding Masai’s fatal shooting during the protests.
Lawyer Manases Mwangi, representing the International Justice Mission, also told the court that police had failed to respond to requests for officers in charge of police armouries to record statements and testify. The armourers from Kamukunji, KICC and Kilimani police stations are yet to appear before the court or provide statements.
However, lawyer Anthony Mwangi, representing the National Police Service, told the court that officers had visited Kilimani Police Station and established that no officer from the station had been deployed to Nairobi CBD on the day Masai was killed.
The NPS lawyer said more time could be required to obtain documents, including police duty rosters. He added that some officers who were at the stations at the time may have since been transferred.
Meanwhile, the inquest heard evidence from its 29th witness, Joash Owango, a security manager at Absa Bank’s Queensway Branch in Nairobi CBD.
Owango confirmed that the bank provided IPOA with CCTV footage recorded on the day Masai was killed after receiving a formal request from the oversight authority.
He told the court that the footage showed protesters moving at a faster pace, which he said indicated tension in the area. He also confirmed that the footage supplied to IPOA had not been altered, adjusted or edited.
Owango said the bank had two CCTV cameras outside its premises, with one covering the parking area and another facing the entrance. Additional cameras covered the banking hall and offices.
However, he told the court that he was not at the bank on the day of the incident and could not confirm what happened, including reports of a shooting near the premises. He said the bank was forced to close early due to the chaos in Nairobi CBD.
As IPOA pushed for the inquest to proceed, prosecution counsel Jalson Makori told the court that the evidence presented so far was sufficient for the prosecution. The inquest continues as the court seeks to establish the circumstances surrounding Masai’s death during the protests.
