Rex Masai murder: Family alleges police cover up as witnesses fail to come out

The fate of investigations into the death of Rex Masai, who was allegedly felled by police bullets during the Anti-Finance Bill protests, remains uncertain after a key witness backed out of the case. 

Gillian Munyao, the mother of the deceased, spoke to Citizen TV expressing fears of witness intimidation and victimization.

This is after most of those she hoped would provide answers on what may have caused her firstborn son’s life, opted to remain silent fearing for their lives. 

Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo has castigated the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga over his recent remarks that no one has offered to record a witness statement over the killings, tasking him to instead collaborate with the DCI to offer witness protection.

More than a month since the death of Masai, one of the protesters who was allegedly shot dead by the police during the Anti-Finance Bill demonstrations, Citizen TV met Rex's mother Gillian Munyao, whose scar of losing her firstborn son is still fresh as she narrates the agony of the unfortunate reality.

“Walishukia huko 680 wakiteremka chini ndio wakapatana na hii maandamano... Kukimbia ndio askari akamshoot ata kwa hiyo clip utaona ni mtu wa nne kutoka nyuma,” she explained.

She says that doctors had confirmed to her that her son had succumbed to a gunshot wound.

“Alikuwa na kaopening kwa left thigh nikauliza haka ka kitu kadogo ndio kameuwa mtoto wangu akasema ako ndio kamemuua unaona hako kakitu kagumu ni risari but hatuwezi toa juu polisi wameshakuja wakachukua statement,” she lamented.

But despite the confirmation that the bullet that claimed her son’s life was still intact, Gilliam claims the twist of things on the day of the post-mortem led her to read malice and what she terms as an attempt to cover up.

“Mimi kwa akili yangu najua vile niliacha mtoto ndio yuko hivo kumbe washatoa risasi kitambo,” Gilliam noted.

The complexities of seeking justice, she says have also been exacerbated after a key witness backed out of the case with many who have crucial information opting to remain tight-lipped out of fear for their lives.

“Mtu yeyote anajaribu kuongea story ya Rex anazimwa unapata mtu ako willing but anaogopa...," she said.

Her concern came barely two days after the DPP stated that he could not prosecute those accused of shooting Rex Masai because the primary witness in the investigation had not appeared to testify on the incident.

Speaking during a forum organized by the civil society groups in Nairobi dubbed Citizen Assembly, the LSK President slammed the DPP tasking him to instead collaborate with the DCI to offer witness protection.

“Am disappointed by Igonga’s statement… he should not throw up his hands, he should find solutions including a collabo with DCI to ensure the family's statements are recorded and those who need witness protection get it,” Odhiambo said.

LSK has also challenged the government to stay true to its commitment to ensure justice.

“The government must stop double-speak and ensure that the injustices, stop and directives by the commander in chief on stopping police brutality stop,” she added.

This comes amidst an escalated quest for a return to normalcy within government through the restructuring of cabinet and talks of the formation of a government of national unity.