Inquest told plainclothes police fired live bullets at protesters before Rex Masai’s death
A witness described seeing one of the officers, who was wearing a black cap, dark jacket, blue jeans, and white sports shoes, open fire using a pistol.
An inquest has been told how plainclothes police officers fired live bullets into the crowd the day Gen Z protester Rex Masai was shot dead in Nairobi's central business district in June 2024.
While testifying on Monday, Frederick Omondi, an ICT engineer and resident of Utawala estate, claimed there was police misconduct as plainclothes officers fired live ammunition directly into a crowd of demonstrators.
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According to him, the incident occurred around 6:50 pm at the intersection of Mama Ngina Street and Wabera Street, near City Hall.
"Police had been dispersing protesters using tear gas launched from the Supreme Court roundabout towards City Hall Way. As the demonstrators retreated and regrouped along Mama Ngina Street, they were intercepted by six police officers—two of whom were in civilian clothing", Omondi told the court.
The witness described seeing one of the officers, who was wearing a black cap, dark jacket, blue jeans, and white sports shoes, open fire using a pistol.
He told Milimani Principal Magistrate Geofrey Onsarigo that after firing live bullets, chaos erupted, which sent demonstrators fleeing in various directions.
The witness said they remained briefly at the scene near the Supreme Court roundabout before leaving due to heavy tear gas fumes.
On the way home, the witness observed several injured individuals, including women, limping near the Kencom bus stage, allegedly as a result of the police crackdown.
Masai was killed on June 24, 2024, during the youth-led protests in a push for better governance.
Lawyer Mwangi Chege for the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), which is representing the family, said the matter will be pursued to its conclusion to ensure that no other incident of a security officer using a firearm on unarmed demonstrators happens.
"We will ensure that on no occasion that police or any other member of the armed units or security forces ever use live ammunition on civilians who are exercising their rights. It is every citizen's right to picket, protest and to associate," stated Chege.
Isaiah Muraguri, one of the police officers implicated in the murder and former Nairobi region police commander Adamson Bungei, are among those who have testified in the inquest.
Bungei is the current Director of Police Operations. He distanced himself from any involvement in the killing, claiming no shots were fired by his police unit during the protests.
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