Businessman-cum politician Jimi Wanjigi has told off the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) over its response to the murder of Rex Masai.
Rex was on Thursday, June 20, 2024, shot within Nairobi CBD during the anti-Finance Bill 2024 demonstrations.
He was rushed to Bliss Health Care within the CBD from where he unfortunately passed on while undergoing treatment.
Wanjigi on murder investigations
Jimi Wanjigi has, however, argued that the ODPP’s response to the incident acts as a cover-up.
He states that all murder cases are supposed to be investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
“Stop taking us to be fools! Murder is investigated by DCI! This is a cover up!” Jimi Wanjigi told the ODPP in a statement issued on Friday, June 21, 2024.
ODPP in a statement issued on Friday had given the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) a 21-day ultimatum to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the death of Rex.
However, Wanjigi argues that this is not the role of IPOA but DCI since it is a murder case.
Stop taking us to be fools! Murder is investigated by DCI! This is a cover up! pic.twitter.com/xgRgGOCYe2
— Jimi Wanjigi (@JimiWanjigi) June 21, 2024
ODPP’s commitment
The ODPP in the statement admitted knowledge of the incident and directed IPOA to conduct a comprehensive investigation and forward the file within 21 days.
“Consequently, pursuant to the provisions of Article 157(4) of the Constitution, the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to carry out thorough and comprehensive investigations into the matter.
“Thereafter, the resultant inquiry file together with the report should be forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) not later than twenty-one (21) days from the date hereof,” the statement reads in part.
Rex’s murder condemned
Opposition leaders have condemned the incident and urged the authorities to bring the perpetrator to book.
Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has urged the police officer who shot Rex to surrender, threatening that Kenyans will deal with him if he continues to hide.
IPOA has since taken up the matter and launched investigations into the incident.
In a statement on Friday, IPOA chairperson Anne Makori said the agency is investigating police conduct during the June 18 and June 20, 2024 demos.
IPOA boss Makori underscored that the agency is mandated to oversee all police operations affecting the public under Section 6(c) of its Act.
“The Authority commends the protesters for holding peaceful demonstrations while unarmed and equally commends the National Police Service’s visible restraint unlike in previous demonstrations. However, the Authority has documented the death of Mr. Rex Masai allegedly as a result of police shooting and several serious injuries suffered by other demonstrators including police officers,” the IPOA chairperson said.
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