In a startling turn of events, the officer in charge of the Central Police Station armoury, Corporal Fredrick Odera Okapesi, failed to identify the officer alleged to have shot and killed 19-year-old activist Rex Kanyike Masai during anti-finance bill protests in June 2024.
This comes despite earlier court testimony in which Okapesi confidently stated he knew the suspect in question.
Appearing before Milimani Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo on Monday, September 1,2025, Corporal Okapesi was presented with photographic evidence by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which allegedly captured the prime suspect, Corporal Isaiah Murangiri Ndumba, in civilian clothes during the protests that gripped the capital last year.
But when confronted with the images, Okapesi hesitated.
“Both Isaiah Murangiri and Benson Kamau are light-skinned. I can only identify them if they are produced physically,” he told the court, suggesting the person in the photos may resemble another officer, Benson Kamau, rather than Murangiri.
The statement marked a dramatic departure from his earlier position, where he had told the court he could identify Corporal Murangiri by face.
Photos, Denials, and a Struggle to Confirm Identity
The photographs in question, submitted by IPOA, were taken on June 18 and June 20, 2024, days during which large-scale protests erupted in Nairobi over the now-shelved Finance Bill.
One of the images showed a man in a blue shirt, black cap, and blue trousers, holding a walkie-talkie—an outfit that IPOA claims matches Murangiri.
However, Okapesi refused to confirm the identity, casting further uncertainty over the prosecution’s case.
“I’m not the one in those photos. On June 18, 2024, I had taken leave to attend to my sick child,” Murangiri later told the court after being recalled for comparison.
He also denied wearing any of the clothing described or carrying a police radio that day, dismissing even the most distinct features, among them a Kenyan-themed wristband and a unique birthmark.
Wristbands, Birthmarks, and Witness Testimony
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) counsel David Mwangi zeroed in on visual identifiers.
He highlighted a birthmark beneath the left ear of the man in the photographs, an attribute that appeared to match Murangiri.
Murangiri, however, denied having such a mark, prompting Mwangi to suggest he “check in a mirror at home.”
Another crucial detail was a Kenyan flag wristband and another bearing the name “Izoo” reportedly worn by the individual in both photo sets. Yet again, Murangiri denied ownership or ever wearing them.
Virtual Testimony from Protected Witness
Key testimony came from a protected witness known as “GG,” a journalist who had captured the crucial images during the protests.
Testifying virtually on July 29, GG described the suspect in minute detail.
“On June 20, he wore a black cap, dark grey short-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, black mask, white sneakers, and carried a walkie-talkie,” she said.
“On June 18, he wore a black cap, light blue shirt, grey trousers, and black shoes. He was photographed outside the Supreme Court, where arrested protesters were being held.”
GG told the court she had provided IPOA with both still images and video clips showing the same man on both dates.
She further stated that she had developed the ability to identify plainclothes officers at protests due to frequent coverage of police operations.
Rex Masai was fatally shot on June 20, 2024, near Moi Avenue during the second week of nationwide youth-led demonstrations.
The hearing of the inquest continues
