Two police bosses confirm secret deployment on day Rex was shot

Casket bearing remains of the late Rex Kanyike Masai at Kamuthanga Secondary School in Machakos County on July 5, 2024. [John Muia, Standard]

Two former Officers Commanding Station (OCS) from Central and Kamukunji Police Stations yesterday gave detailed testimony in the ongoing inquest into the death of 29-year-old activist Rex Masai, who was  fatally shot during the anti-Finance Bill protests in Nairobi last year.

Chief Inspector Moses Mutayi Shikuku, then OCS at Central Police Station and currently Deputy Police Commander for Juja Sub-County, appeared alongside his former counterpart, Robert Mugo Rono of Kamukunji Police Station, before Milimani Law Courts. They were summoned to account for their deployments and actions on the day Masai was killed.

The late activist was shot on June 19, 2024, in the Central Business District (CBD) as protests against the Finance Bill turned chaotic. His death sparked national outrage and renewed scrutiny over police operations during public demonstrations.

Giving evidence before trial magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo, Shikuku confirmed that both uniformed and undercover police officers were deployed across major hot spots within the city on the day of the incident.

“We deployed plainclothes officers, some of whom were armed, in areas such as Jeevanjee Gardens, Muindi Mbingu Street, University Way, Globe Roundabout, River Road, and Tom Mboya Monument,” he testified.

Shikuku stated that while he could not recall the exact number of undercover officers deployed, he confirmed that Police Constable Isaiah Ndumba Murangiri, one of the officers linked to the fatal shooting, was part of the undercover team.

“Murangiri was among those in civilian clothes coordinated from the division. As for officers Geoffrey Kamau and Geoffrey Kigen, I cannot recall if they were deployed that day,” Shikuku told the court.

He admitted that some plainclothes officers took instructions from more senior officials above his command, but declined to name who authorised their deployment. Although he had operational command, certain decisions were issued from the regional police headquarters.

On the use of live ammunition, Shikuku said, “I cannot confirm if live rounds were used. Firearms are issued from the armoury, but I was in the field early and did not verify the arms register that day. To my knowledge, no live ammunition was discharged.”

Court records showed that 280 officers returned their firearms on 20 June. Shikuku maintained that none reported having used live ammunition.

He recounted that around 7pm on June 19, he was informed by Inspector Njeru from Ngara Police Station that someone had been taken to Bliss Hospital with a serious leg injury.

“I told him to proceed and check. He later informed me that the individual had died,” said Shikuku.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) subsequently took over the matter, which was initially recorded as a case of “sudden death.”

However, confusion arose in Shikuku’s testimony regarding the nature of Masai’s injuries. He initially mentioned a wound to the neck, but later clarified that the official report stated a leg injury.

Shikuku defended the police response, claiming that demonstrators turned violent and attacked officers.

Former Kamukunji OCS Robert Mugo Rono denied knowledge that a vehicle from his station had been used to transport Masai’s body to the City Mortuary. He explained that during major operations, police vehicles are often assigned to regional command without the knowledge of individual station commanders.