Lies and cover-ups have emerged at the inquest into the killing of activist Rex Masai, with top echelons of the National Police Service (NPS) coming under scrutiny from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA).
IPOA’s lead investigator, Mr Justin Nyatete, on Thursday told the court that a key suspect, Police Constable Isaiah Murangiri Ndumba, lied to investigators about his mobile phone number.
Mr Nyatete said Mr Ndumba provided a phone number belonging to another subscriber. Upon cross-checking with Safaricom, IPOA established that the number was registered in the name of one Michael Okello.
Police officer Isaiah Murangiri Ndumba testifies at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi on February 5, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
During a five-hour hearing at the Milimani Law Courts, the magistrate heard how senior police officers allegedly frustrated IPOA’s efforts to establish who killed the Gen-Z activist during the anti-government protests in June 2024.
Mr Nyatete testified that attempts to obtain information from top police officials, including Inspector-General Douglas Kanja, Deputy Inspector-General Eliud Lagat, former Nairobi Regional Commander Adamson Bungei and Sub-County Commander Doris Mugambi, were unsuccessful.
He said the police chiefs declined to provide information on the deployment of officers during the June 2024 protests.
The investigator told the court that efforts to identify the officer who shot Rex Masai and the firearm used were futile due to a lack of cooperation from the police.
He said senior officers failed to provide operational orders and deployment schedules, while records at Central Police Station had allegedly been interfered with.
Mr Nyatete further testified that several senior officers failed to honour the IPOA summons issued on March 28, 2025. Those who allegedly ignored the summons included DIG Lagat, GSU Commandant Renson Lomandon, RDU Commandant Aggrey Shamallah and Regional Commander Stephen Kathuri. Only Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) Commandant Joseph Limo complied.
The court heard that former Nairobi Regional Commander Bungei also failed to provide operation orders and deployment schedules despite being served with court orders.
Mr Nyatete gave a detailed account of events on June 18 and June 20, 2024, when anti-Finance Bill protests rocked Nairobi and other parts of the country.
He testified that IPOA established that armed undercover officers in civilian clothes drawn from the GSU, KDF, Administration Police and RDU had been deployed against protesters who were largely carrying water bottles and Kenyan flags.
“We uncovered that police officers deployed in the city were armed with firearms, batons, water cannons and tear gas launchers,” he testified.
Police officer Isaiah Murangiri Ndumba testifies at Milimani Law Courts before senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo on February 5, 2025, in an inquest of Rex Masai who was shot during Gen Z protests.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation
The witness said IPOA discovered serious inconsistencies in police accounts regarding deployment during the demonstrations.
Nairobi Sub-County Commander Doris Mugambi contradicted DIG Lagat’s claim that police had not planned for the protests.
According to her statement to IPOA, Ms Mugambi briefed officers at KICC at around 5 am on June 20, 2024, while DIG Lagat stated in a letter to IPOA that the protests were “spontaneous” and that police had not planned for them.
The DIG reportedly told IPOA that “no prior notification had been issued to the National Police Service.”
“I wonder why they would brief officers while at the same time saying the protests were spontaneous. That does not add up,” Mr Nyatete told the court.
The investigator also presented photographs and videos, which he said placed an armed undercover officer in civilian clothing at the scene of the shooting, identifying him as Isaiah Murangiri Ndumba.
“The individual captured in the still photos resembles Mr Ndumba, who appeared before this court. One of the photos showed a birthmark on his face and the officer who appeared before this court has the same mark,” Mr Nyatete testified.
He described the individual seen shooting Masai as wearing blue jeans, a black cap, white sports shoes and a black shirt.
Rex Masai, who was shot during the anti-tax demonstrations.
Photo credit: Pool
Investigators established that Mr Ndumba had been issued a tear gas launcher at Central Police Station on June 20, 2024, at around 5 am.
Images and videos presented in court allegedly showed a figure matching his description aiming a weapon at fleeing protesters near ABSA Bank.
The court also heard that video footage showed protesters heading towards various bus stages after a peaceful demonstration at around 6 pm when gunfire erupted from five plainclothes officers pursuing demonstrators.
Safaricom data from Mr Ndumba’s registered phone numbers allegedly placed him not at KICC, as he had claimed, but around Windsor House, Wakulima House, Development House and Wabera Street — areas where witnesses reported officers chasing protesters.
“The officer decided to mislead the investigation by providing false information about his mobile phone numbers, including a number belonging to Michael Okello,” Mr Nyatete said.
During cross-examination by Law Society of Kenya lawyer David Mwangi, Mr Nyatete identified Isaiah Murangiri Ndumba as the suspect seen at the scene of Rex Masai’s shooting.
The hearing continues on June 15, 2026, when NPS lawyer Elias Ouma is expected to cross-examine the witness.
