That’s not me – police officer accused of shooting Rex Masai claims mistaken identity

Corporal Isaiah Murangiri of Central Police station in the dock at the Milimani law courts. Photo (Joseph Ndunda EV)

By Maureen Kinyanjui
Thursday, July 17, 2025

Murangiri testified that on the day of the protest, he had been deployed at the main entrance of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and never left his post. He added that the protesters did not reach his area of assignment, and he therefore did not use any of the teargas canisters issued to him.

A police constable accused of being linked to the shooting of activist Rex Masai during the anti-finance bill protests has dismissed the claims as mistaken identity, telling a Nairobi court that he was nowhere near the scene and the images presented do not show him.

Appearing before the Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday, Police Constable Isaiah Murangiri denied being present along Uhuru Highway on June 18, 2024, when Masai was allegedly shot.

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He was responding to photographs presented by the state counsel, which showed a man seen across several protest locations and who the prosecution claims resembled him.

But Murangiri insisted the person in the images was not him. “I’m not the one. According to me, the pictures bear no resemblance,” he told the court.

Murangiri testified that on the day of the protest, he had been deployed at the main entrance of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) and never left his post. He added that the protesters did not reach his area of assignment, and he therefore did not use any of the teargas canisters issued to him.

“Firearms and crowd-control equipment should only be used when protecting yourself, protecting someone else, or responding to an active threat,” he said during the inquest proceedings before Magistrate Onsarigo.

Police Constable Isaiah Murangiri, linked to the fatal shooting of activist Rex Masai, has denied being the officer captured in photos from the June 18, 2024, protests. This is despite photo evidence of him near the scene of the shooting, escorting protesters, removing boulders,… pic.twitter.com/SurKEflduQ
— The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) July 17, 2025

However, his latest account appeared to contradict his previous statement in which he told the court that he had been off duty on June 18 and was at home looking after his sick child.

The inconsistency was flagged by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which raised questions over the reliability of Murangiri’s testimony.

Paul Njihia, an assistant director of forensic investigations at IPOA, also testified on Wednesday.

He told the court that he was directed by the Deputy Director of Investigations to visit Mama Ngina Street on June 22, two days after Masai was allegedly shot during the protests.

“At the scene, I observed what appeared to be dried blood near the International Life House,” said Njihia.

He said he collected blood samples for DNA testing and also recovered a deformed bullet lodged in a nearby building window, which he handed over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for ballistic examination.

Njihia said a bullet hole observed at the building indicated the use of live ammunition. Photographs he took at the scene were also presented to the court as part of the ongoing inquest.

The hearing is scheduled to resume on July 17.