A fresh twist unfolded in the inquest into the death of Rex Masai as Police Constable Isaiah Murangiri, recalled for cross-examination, firmly denied being the officer captured in key photographs presented in court by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). The images, allegedly taken on the day Masai was fatally shot, showed a man bearing a striking resemblance to Murangiri.
Murangiri, who testified for the second time at the Milimani Law Courts, maintained that he was stationed at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on July 20, 2024, and did not move from his assigned post. He also stated he was in civilian attire that day but could not recall the specific clothing he wore.
The officer confirmed he had been deployed with a unit identified as “Alpha-Mike,” which he described as an anti-mugging squad. When questioned about his activity on July 18, 2024, Murangiri claimed he was off duty attending to his sick child.
However, IPOA introduced photographic evidence showing a man with an uncanny resemblance to the officer. The tension in court rose when IPOA pointed out a distinctive birthmark on the left side of Murangiri’s face identical to one visible on the individual in the photos. Additionally, forensic experts reportedly extracted metadata from the photos and mobile phone records, placing Murangiri along Uhuru Highway on July 18.
When asked if he had used his teargas launcher during the protest, Murangiri denied firing at Rex Masai and added that he received no operational instructions from the Nairobi County Commander on that day.
Earlier in the proceedings, Crime Scene Investigator Paul Njihia testified that police had opened fire on Mama Ngina Street, presenting photographic evidence and a scene sketch. Njihia told the court that a damaged bullet recovered at the scene was analyzed and confirmed as live ammunition in a ballistic report dated August 8, 2024. He also confirmed that blood swabs collected at the scene matched the DNA of Rex Masai.
IPOA requested the court to compel the submission of police arms movement records and urged that all officers involved appear before the oversight body for further investigation. Lawyers representing Masai’s family supported the move, stating that certified arms movement records exist and should be treated as original documentation.
Presiding Magistrate Geoffrey Onsaringo ordered that the arms movement logs be handed over to the prosecution and directed all remaining officers who have not yet testified to present themselves to IPOA.
Rex Masai was killed during the June 20, 2024, anti-government protests, triggering public outrage and renewed calls for police accountability. The inquest aims to establish whether he was shot with live ammunition and, if so, who pulled the trigger.
The hearing resumes tomorrow.
