Gov't pathologist confirms Rex Masai died of gunshot wound during protests

After weeks of repeated adjournments attributed to his demanding official schedule, Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor on Wednesday finally took the stand as a prosecution witness in the inquest into the death of Rex Kanyike Masai.

Testifying virtually as Prosecution Witness 27, Dr. Oduor walked the court through the autopsy he conducted on Masai’s body on June 21, 2024.

His findings affirmed that Masai died from a gunshot wound sustained during the June 20 anti-Finance Bill protests.

“Rex Masai died from haemorrhage, excessive bleeding from one gunshot wound,” said Dr.Oduor.

He detailed the nature of the injuries, including the entry point of the bullet and the trajectory that ultimately proved fatal.

 “I found injuries as follows… There was an entry gunshot wound on the left thigh…” he said.

The day’s proceedings also featured the cross-examination of George Ndikas, Masai’s close friend, who had testified last week.

Lawyers representing the National Police Service (NPS) sought to challenge inconsistencies in his account, particularly his claim that Masai was already limping at the moment an individual believed to be a police officer was seen discharging a firearm.

However, a legal standoff between the prosecution and the defence escalated during the proceedings after counsel representing the NPS sought to recall a witness for further cross-examination, citing the need to clarify issues that had emerged following his earlier testimony.

The prosecution opposed the move, accusing the defence of making what it termed “fishy” attempts to reopen matters already addressed, dragging back the case.

“When there was CCTV footage that was brought from ABSA, there was a question of who could authenticate those materials," Counsel for NPS Alias Ouma stated.

Prosecution officer Jalson Makori said, "They have seen the evidence that we’re relying on. They want to fill in the gaps they had left in cross-examination. And we vehemently oppose.”

Despite the objection, the defence had its way after the court allowed the recall of Tiberius Thomas Ekisa, an officer attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), for additional cross-examination.

The inquest is scheduled to resume next Wednesday before Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo, with the prosecution expected to present a key protected witness as the proceedings draw closer to a conclusion.