Police Constable Isaiah Murangiri has denied being present at the scene of the fatal shooting of activist Rex Masai during the June 18, 2024, anti-finance bill protests in Nairobi, despite photographic evidence presented in court.
Testifying before Magistrate Zainab Onsarigo at the Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday, Murangiri distanced himself from images allegedly showing him along Uhuru Highway during the protests. The state counsel argued that the man captured in multiple photos bore a striking resemblance to Murangiri. However, the officer maintained that he was stationed at the main entrance of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on that day.
“I’m not the one. According to me, the pictures bear no resemblance,” Murangiri asserted, insisting he did not leave his post and only had teargas canisters issued to him, which he never used. He added that the protesters did not reach his location, and therefore, there was no need for him to engage.
However, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) flagged contradictions in Murangiri’s testimony. In an earlier statement, the officer had claimed he was off duty on June 18 and had stayed home caring for a sick child an account that conflicts with his latest court appearance.
Paul Njihia, IPOA’s Assistant Director of Forensic Investigations, also testified, revealing that he was sent to Mama Ngina Street on June 22 to collect forensic evidence. At the scene, Njihia observed dried blood near the International Life House and a bullet hole on a nearby building window. A deformed bullet was recovered and handed to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for ballistic analysis.
“I collected and documented the samples for DNA analysis and recovered a deformed bullet, which I forwarded to the DCI,” Njihia told the court.
Photographs from the scene and forensic evidence were presented as part of the inquest proceedings.
The court seeks to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting of 29-year-old Rex Masai during the protests. The inquest is scheduled to continue on July 17.
