Klinzy Barasa pleads not guilty in mask vendor Boniface Kariuki's murder

Masinde appeared before the Milimani law courts on Monday after undergoing a mental assessment and was okayed to take plea.

The court ordered the prosecution to file bail within seven days and the family of the victims to reply to the application within 7 days.

Assistant Director of Investigations, attached to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Sarah Mwea recommends death penalty if Baraza is found guilty.

IPOA further urged the court to conduct witness threats assessment on two key witnesses who are deemed vulnerable.

Barasa is accused of killing hawker Boniface Kariuki during the June 17 Nairobi protests over extrajudicial killings.

Barasa and his fellow constable, Duncan Kiprono, were interdicted after being captured on tape manhandling the unarmed mask vendor before the suspect shot him at close range, leaving him for dead along Moi Avenue. Kiprono was later freed by court. 

Following the incident, which sparked uproar and more protests over police brutality, Kariuki was admitted to the hospital with four bullet fragments lodged in his brain.

Pathologists later noted that Kariuki's brain may have ceased functioning before his death was officially announced over a week later.

Meanwhile, Kiprono was set free after the DPP said no murder charges would be preferred against him.