A police officer linked to the shooting of activist Rex Masai during the anti-government protests on June 20, 2024, has been placed at the scene through a photo identification session.
In the photographs taken on the day of the incident, Police Constable Isaiah Murangiri’s black birthmark on the left cheek and moustache are clearly visible.
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
Although Murangiri vehemently denied being the officer seen in the photographs presented by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (Ipoa), he was also captured holding an anti-riot gun under his armpit while overseeing the arrest of demonstrators boarding a police Land Cruiser.
Murangiri told the court that he was part of the Alfamine Unit deployed to man the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) gate and the Governor’s Gate overlooking KICC.
He added that their Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) did not give any orders to shoot or kill protesters.
Lawyer Mwangi Chege, representing the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), highlighted key similarities between the photographs and PC Murangiri, pointing out the black birthmark below his left earlobe, his moustache, goatee, light brown complexion and a bracelet inscribed with the word Kenya.
“Kindly turn and show the magistrate the features visible in the photos for comparison,” Mr Chege requested during court proceedings.
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
PC Murangiri turned, and Mr Chege pointed out the birthmark on his left cheek to the court.
The photographs also show the officer removing boulders mounted by Gen Z demonstrators, escorting protesters to a waiting police Land Cruiser and stashing a firearm under his armpit.
“Are you the one seen in these photos?” Mr Chege asked, specifically pointing to the bracelet worn on the officer’s right hand as seen in the evidence.
PC Murangiri responded: “No, I am not the one.”
As the photos were displayed on a screen used for the virtual hearing, members of the public gallery stood up to catch a glimpse.
In his testimony, Murangiri told the court that he did not report for duty on June 18, 2024, as he was attending to a sick child.
Recalled to testify in the ongoing inquest at the Milimani Law Courts into Rex Masai’s death, he insisted he did not shoot at demonstrators.
He stated he had been issued a tear gas launcher, which he never used, claiming the demonstrators never reached his designated area.
Meanwhile, three other officers, Corporal Martin Githinji, PC Simon Waweru and PC Geoffrey Mbai, have been directed by Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo to record statements with IPOA.
This follows a twin application by prosecution counsel Jalson Makori seeking summons for the three officers and a warrant of arrest should they defy the directive to cooperate with IPOA immediately.
Mr Makori also urged the court to order Police Corporal Okapesi of Central Police Station to surrender the original arms movement register to the prosecution for safekeeping, noting its relevance to the ongoing inquest and potential future proceedings.
