Plain clothes police fired bullets before Rex died, court told
Masai, a participant in youth-led protests for better governance, was fatally hit during that confrontation.
Live fire from officers in ordinary clothes hit a crowd of young protesters before Rex Masai was killed, a Nairobi court has heard.
Testifying on Monday, ICT engineer Frederick Omondi from Utawala told the inquest he saw clear misconduct by police on the evening of June 24, 2024.
Omondi said that at about 6:50 pm, he stood near the junction of Mama Ngina Street and Wabera Street when police moved to break up a Gen Z march.
"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.
He described one of the plainclothes officers, dressed in a black cap, dark jacket, blue jeans and white sports shoes, drawing a pistol and firing into the crowd.
The witness said panic followed the gunshots, with people running as tear gas clouded the street.
Omondi stayed near the Supreme Court roundabout only briefly because the fumes became unbearable.
While heading toward the Kencom bus stage, he saw injured protesters, including women limping and bleeding, whom he blamed on the police crackdown.
Masai, a participant in youth-led protests for better governance, was fatally hit during that confrontation.
The Law Society of Kenya, acting for his family, pledged to seek full accountability.
Lawyer Mwangi Chege told the court, "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."
Police constable Isaiah Muraguri and former Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei have already given evidence in the inquiry.
Bungei, now Director of Police Operations, denied any link to the killing and insisted his unit fired no shots that day.
The inquiry remains open as the court reviews the evidence already placed on record.
