By:Rhoda Bogeta
The court has for the third time summoned former Nairobi Area Sub County Commander Doris Mugambi to testify in the ongoing inquest into the fatal shooting of Rex Masai.
This follows a request by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), through state counsel Jalson Makori, who told the court that the officer is required to clarify critical information relating to the case.
Presiding magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo also summoned other witnesses, including Laurence Machira, a representative of Bliss Hospital, and an occupant of International Life House, where a bullet fragment suspected to have killed Rex was recovered.
Three officials from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and a journalist have also been recalled to give further evidence.
The inquest, which was expected to conclude today after the final three witnesses ,government pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor and the investigating officer among them ,were set to testify, have now been extended.
The extension follows an indication by the prosecution and NPS legal team that ten additional witnesses will be called before the court.
At the start of the session, tension arose between representatives from the DPP, the National Police Service (NPS), and IPOA after the DPP accused the two agencies of engaging in a cover-up.
Previously, Mr. Makori had urged the court to compel Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Eliud Lagat to appear and clarify issues surrounding police operations on the day Rex was shot.
However, the application was later withdrawn after the DPP’s office confirmed that the required information had already been provided by earlier witnesses from the National Police Service.
Magistrate Onsarigo directed that all the recalled witnesses be summoned and presented before the court.
The matter will be mentioned virtually on November 11, 2025, to confirm compliance.
Rex Kanyike Masai was shot and killed in Nairobi’s city centre in June 2024 as police dispersed anti-tax protesters.
He was rushed to Bliss Hospital along Moi Avenue, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
“He was shot in the upper middle part of the thigh. It appears he bled to death before being brought to our facility,” a doctor at the hospital said.
Following the incident, the DPP recommended an inquest to determine whether murder charges should be preferred against any suspects.
The inquest is being conducted by Milimani Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo.
