A police officer attached to Nairobi's Central Police Station has admitted in court that he signed out two firearms and 30 rounds of ammunition on the day activist Rex Masai was fatally shot during anti-government protests on June 20, 2024.
Corporal Martin Githinji, who told the court he had been assigned undercover duties, struggled to explain why he signed for both a Jericho and a Ceska pistol that day.
Under intense questioning from prosecuting counsel Jalson Makori, International Justice Mission (IJM) lawyer Manases Mwangi, and Law Society of Kenya (LSK) advocate Mwangi Chege, Mr Githinji had difficulty clarifying the discrepancies in the Arms Movement Register (AMR), including the use of different force numbers next to his name.
Rex Masai, who was killed during the 2024 Gen-Z anti-government protests.
Photo credit: Pool
“If either of these guns, which you signed for, was used to fatally shoot Rex Masai, who should take responsibility?” Mr Mwangi asked.
“According to the Arms Movement Register, I signed for them—so I would take responsibility,” Cpl Githinji replied.
Notably, the register bore his signature and force number, but a previously written name had been whitewashed and replaced with that of one Simon Waweru.
Pressed further by Mr Mwangi, the witness admitted that different force numbers had been recorded against his name, placing him at the centre of what appeared to be irregular entries made by the station’s armourer, one Corporal Okapesi.
Testifying before Milimani Chief Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo, Mr Githinji described the questionable entries as a "human error common in record keeping." He explained that his name appeared on two different pages of the AMR, and in both instances, he had signed.
“How many guns were you actually issued, given that you signed for two?” Mr Mwangi asked.
“I was issued with one,” Githinji responded.
Corporal Martin Githinji on July 22 2025, pointing out a discrepancy in the register of arms movement at a screen mounted at the Milimani Law Courts during the Rex Masai inquest.
Photo credit: Richard Munguti | Nation
When asked how many rounds of ammunition he received from CPL Okapesi, he said: “Fifteen rounds, as usual.”
During examination by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (ADPP) Jalson Makori, the officer confirmed that police regulations do not permit an officer to sign out a weapon on behalf of another.
Mr Makori criticised the entries in the AMR as "misleading, full of errors, and a glaring cover-up." He noted that the whitewashing of a name and replacement with “Simon Waweru” while retaining CPL Githinji’s signature and force number was particularly troubling.
Although he admitted to signing for two guns, Githinji said he only received one—a Jericho pistol. The second gun, a Ceska pistol, was issued to Constable Simon Waweru, who was part of the undercover team under his command.
Mr Githinji tried to deflect blame, accusing the armourer of recording his name twice.
“When I noticed the error, I remained behind and asked CPL Okapesi to rectify the record,” he said in his defence.
However, LSK lawyer Chege urged the court to rely on the official records.
“This court should go by the AMR, which speaks volumes,” he told the magistrate. Chege argued that responsibility ultimately lies with whoever signed for the weapons.
Corporal Martin Githinji being cross-examined by lawyer Manases Mwangi at the ongoing Rex Masai inquest at the Milimani Law Courts on July 22 2025.
Photo credit: Richard Munguti | Nation
In a startling moment during cross-examination by IJM’s Mr Mwangi, the officer confessed that in his 19 years in the National Police Service, he had never seen or used a rubber bullet.
“I have never seen a rubber bullet. I have never used one during my 19 years of handling firearms and ammunition,” he said.
Mr Githinji also confirmed he altered AMR records in the presence of PC Waweru, the officer issued with the second firearm he signed for.
Two other officers, PC Simon Waweru and PC Geoffrey Mbai Murangiri, also testified.
Both denied discharging their firearms during the June 20 protests and said they returned their guns and ammunition intact.
“CPL Githinji signed for it without my permission,” he said.
The hearing continues on July 29, 2025.
