The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
The inquest into the death of 29-year-old Gen-Z protester Rex Masai has been closed after a forensic expert told the court that CCTV footage submitted as evidence showed no signs of tampering.
Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Senior Assistant Director of Forensics Joshua Mutua told Milimani Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo on Monday that a digital forensic examination found no evidence that the footage had been deleted, altered or edited.
Mutua said IPOA retrieved the recordings using a USB flash drive before subjecting them to forensic analysis.
He told the court that the videos and other digital evidence presented during the inquest remained in their original form and showed no indication of deliberate manipulation.
The forensic expert also said the footage was consistent in terms of its timing and visual sequence.
According to Mutua, the video examined lasted one minute and 15 seconds and was recorded on June 20, 2024, beginning at 7:18 p.m.
He said the examination did not identify any technical or deliberate alterations, including insertion, deletion, duplication, splicing or rearrangement of the footage.
Mutua added that he signed the certificate for the reviewed footage on July 31, 2026.
Two-Year Inquest Comes to an End
The testimony brought to a close an inquest that has lasted two years. The court heard evidence from 30 witnesses and received 48 exhibits during the proceedings.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Director Jalson Makori, informed the court that it had concluded its case after calling all its witnesses.
The inquest was launched following Masai’s fatal shooting during the Anti-Finance Bill protests in June 2024 and has sought to establish the circumstances surrounding his death.
Among the evidence presented were photographs and video recordings linked to police officer Isaiah Murangiri Ndumba, who was identified as the main suspect.
A protected witness known as GG previously testified that she noticed similarities between photographs she took during the protests and the officer identified in the case.
The witness cited details such as clothing, wristbands and other visible items as part of the similarities.
Murangiri has denied being the person shown in the photographs.
During one court session, photographs were displayed showing a civilian officer wearing a black cap, dark grey short-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, a black mask and white sports shoes while carrying a walkie-talkie.
The witness also drew attention to two wristbands visible in the images.
The deceased’s family and the National Police Service were represented by Law Society of Kenya lawyer Mwangi Chege, who raised no objection to the closure of the inquest.
With oral testimony now complete, the parties are expected to file written submissions before the magistrate delivers a determination.
The case will next be mentioned virtually on September 24, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. for further directions.
