The investigation into the killing of Rex Kanyike Masai, a 29-year-old protestor shot dead during the anti-Finance Bill demonstrations in June 2024, has taken a sharp turn. The National Police Service (NPS) announced on Tuesday, November 5, 2025, its intention to deploy senior investigators to what it describes as filling crucial gaps in the initial inquiry conducted by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA). This development introduces a new layer of complexity to a case that has galvanized a national conversation on police brutality and the state's accountability.

In a submission before Nairobi's Senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo, the NPS, through its legal representatives G & A Advocates, contended that the investigation by IPOA was “incomplete and lacking in crucial evidentiary detail.” The police service warned that these omissions could lead to a miscarriage of justice in a matter of significant public importance. The NPS has explicitly faulted both IPOA and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for what it termed “incomplete and lackadaisical” investigations, arguing the evidence presented so far is insufficient to ensure the perpetrators are held accountable.

Key Investigative Gaps Identified

The NPS has outlined several specific areas it believes require further, more rigorous investigation. These include:

• Comprehensive statements from all eyewitnesses.
• Analysis of CCTV footage from a bank near the scene of the shooting.
• Thorough review of arms movement registers from all police stations whose officers were deployed during the protests, including Kamakunji, Kilimani, and Ngara, not just the Central Police Station.
• Ballistic analysis of a specific Ceska pistol.
• Additional medical testimony.

The police service highlighted that a key eyewitness, George Ndickers Abuti, a close friend who was with Masai when he was shot and took him to the hospital, has not yet testified in the inquest. The court has since adjourned the matter to Monday, November 11, 2025, to issue summonses for 10 new witnesses identified by the NPS.

A Contested Investigation from the Start

Rex Masai was fatally shot around 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2024, along Moi Avenue in Nairobi’s Central Business District during youth-led protests against the controversial Finance Bill 2024. A post-mortem examination confirmed he died from excessive bleeding caused by a gunshot wound to his thigh. The killing sparked widespread public outrage and intensified scrutiny of police conduct during demonstrations.

Following the incident, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, on Friday, June 21, 2024, directed IPOA to conduct a thorough investigation and submit a report within 21 days. IPOA, a civilian oversight body established by the IPOA Act of 2011 to investigate police misconduct, promptly launched its probe, confirming it had established contact with Masai's family. However, the NPS has now argued that the DPP’s directive, coming just 12 hours after the shooting, was premature and precluded the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) from conducting its own initial probe.

Broader Implications for Police Accountability

The public clash between the NPS and IPOA over the handling of the Masai case underscores the persistent challenges in achieving police accountability in Kenya. The protests in June 2024, which saw dozens of demonstrators killed, have reignited calls for comprehensive police reforms to address a historical pattern of excessive force and impunity. Human rights organizations have long documented cases of extrajudicial killings and police brutality, with few officers being successfully prosecuted.

The inquest into Masai's death is seen as a critical test for Kenya's justice system. Difficulties in the investigation, such as witnesses' reluctance to come forward and unclear CCTV footage, have been noted by the DPP's office. The recent intervention by the NPS, while framed as a move to ensure a thorough investigation, will be closely watched. Critics may view it as an attempt by the police to investigate themselves and potentially control the narrative, while supporters may see it as a necessary step to rectify a flawed process. The outcome of this high-profile inquest will undoubtedly have significant repercussions for the relationship between the Kenyan public and its police service, and for the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability.