A demonstrator who was with activist Rex Masai during last year’s Gen-Z anti-government protests has told a Nairobi court that police killed him.
Mr Fredrick Otieno told Milimani law courts senior principal magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo that he did not witness goons or gangs participating in the June 25, 2024 demos opposing the 2024/2025 Financial Bill.
Recounting his last moments with Masai, Mr Otieno, an engineer, said that there had been a heavy police presence during the widespread protests that had rocked the entire country.
“All I witnessed were police officers shooting at us,” he told the inquest investigating Rex's death. "I never saw goons or gangs. It was just the police and the protestors."
Describing the scene as gruesome, Mr Otieno said that the police had opened fire and that everyone had fled for their lives.
Rex Masai, who was killed during the 2024 Gen-Z anti-government protests.
Photo credit: Pool
He said that police officers in uniform, as well as others carrying guns and pistols, were charging at demonstrators.
"The first time, I saw the plainclothes officers. They were among those in uniform. Later, they left the group of uniformed police officers and moved into the crowd," he recalled.
Mr Otieno said that the shooting began shortly after the protesters passed the KCB Bank Building on Mama Ngina Street in Nairobi.
However, he made it clear that he was not present at the scene where activist Masai was shot.
Nevertheless, Mr Otieno stated that he had seen police officers fire live bullets at protesters.
"I saw a police officer shooting live bullets, and if given the chance, I can identify him," he said.
The witness also mentioned that he had collected several spent and live cartridges from various locations, specifically along GPO and near Kencom.
“They were shooting live rounds. I could tell from the sounds. But these were not from the Rex Masai scene,” he stated.
Rex Masai's Mother Gillian Munyao (left), lawyer Mwangi Chege (centre), Rex's father Chrisphine Odawa (right) and other human rights activists outside the Milimani law courts on March 10, 2025 after the adjournment of Rex Masai's murder inquest.
In his testimony, Mr Otieno provided a detailed account of the events of the day.
He highlighted one incident in which he saw an officer dressed in civilian clothes, wearing a black cap and carrying a pistol and a club, shooting directly at the protesters.
"He was shooting live rounds of ammunition with his pistol," he said.
The officer was wearing white sports shoes, dark blue jeans, a black cap and a dark jacket.
As the proceedings progressed, Julius Kamau, an activist, erupted, shouting against police brutality and the mayhem inflicted on innocent citizens.
Mr Kamau shouted at the top of his voice in a fit of anger, forcing court orderlies to surround him.
Lawyers, led by Ian Mutiso, surrounded him and escorted him out of the courtroom.
Mr Mutiso led him towards Capitol Hill, while the court orderlies asked him to maintain peace.
Other activists, vexed by the proceedings, joined the protest.
