Former Kamukunji Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Chief Inspector Robert Mugo has denied that police officers under his command were responsible for any civilian deaths during the June 2024 protests sparked by the contentious Finance Bill. Testifying in an ongoing inquest into the death of 29-year-old Rex Masai, Mugo maintained that officers only responded to criminal activity, not peaceful protests.
Now stationed in Githurai, Mugo told the court that between June 18 and 20, his team was tasked with maintaining order in Nairobi’s lower Central Business District (CBD), a zone bustling with commercial activity. “The individuals we encountered were not peaceful demonstrators but criminals engaging in looting,” Mugo stated, adding that some carried weapons.
He said that of the 300 officers under his command at Kamukunji, only 60 were deployed to the lower CBD. “None of them carried firearms—only teargas and batons,” he insisted. He further denied the presence of undercover officers in the area, asserting that those assigned were in uniform and operating under specific orders.
Mugo testified that no civilian injuries or fatalities were reported from the operation in his area of jurisdiction, although he confirmed that three to four officers were injured, with one left in serious condition. He emphasized that those who confronted police were not protesters but individuals exploiting the situation for criminal activity.
“There were no peaceful protests in the lower CBD. Those were criminals,” he said, aligning his testimony with other police witnesses who have painted a similar picture of the unrest.
Mugo also pointed to operational challenges once the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) were deployed. “There was no coordination after the KDF came in. We were receiving orders from Madam Dorris to secure the lower CBD,” he noted.
On the death of Rex Masai, Mugo distanced himself from any knowledge or involvement. “I was told my vehicle took two bodies to the mortuary, but I don’t know their identities or the cause of their deaths,” he said.
The inquest continues as the court seeks clarity on the circumstances surrounding Rex Masai’s death and the broader police response to the June demonstrations.
