Witness in Rex Masai case testifies seeing police fire live bullets
A key witness in the case on Gen Zs that were killed during the anti-tax protests that took place in June 2024, Fredrick Otieno, on Monday, May 12, 2025, told court that he saw a police officer in civilian clothes shoot live bullets at a crowd of protesters.
In a gripping testimony, Otieno said that the police who fired towards the protesters was among six policemen who were providing security during the protests.
“I saw him shooting directly towards the crowd; I was behind the policemen when the shooting happened around the corner house on Kimathi Street,” Otieno told the court.
He also told court that the officer who fired the live bullets was displaying his firearm while his colleagues had buttons, and one was holding a tear gas canister.
“Four of the six police officers were carrying buttons; the two who were in civilian were carrying a tear gas launcher, and one had his pistol out,” Otieno told the court.
However, he told the court that he did not see anyone injured from the shooting, claiming it was already late at night.
Police movements
Additionally, he told the court that the two police in civilian clothes were always walking together prior to June 20, 2024.
Otieno also told the court that the police officer who had the pistol out was in a black cap, a blue shirt, blue jeans and a jacket that he could not tell whether it was black or navy blue.
He added that the other policeman in civilian clothes was wearing a dark grey jacket, had a protruding belly, and was shorter than his colleague.
Further, he told court that he is able to identify the two officers who were in civilian clothes because he had seen them earlier in the day.
Spent cartridges
The witness also revealed that he collected between five and ten live bullet cartridges along Agha-Khan Walk near Ken-com at around 5:30 pm and other rubber bullets around GPO at around 1 pm on June 20, 2024.
Later, he gave out the live bullet cartridges to friends, remaining with one, which he has to date, though he did not bring them over to court, but he was willing to give out the cartridge to investigative officers in case they needed it.
He then proceeded to record statements on the same with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) on June 21, 2024, but did not disclose to them whether he had a used cartridge with him.
Notably, he blamed the police for using excessive force on the protesters, who he said were not radical and were demonstrating peacefully before the police attacked them.
However, he commended the General Service Unit (GSU) officers, who he said were at that time very helpful and friendly to demonstrators who sought help from them.
“The GSU officers were friendly and helpful; they were trying to guide an old lady and another gentleman on where to pass through,” the witness told the court.
“I was able to identify the officer because I had seen him on June 18, 2024, near I and M Bank and later near Ken-com arresting a lady near whom I cannot tell whether she was a protester.”
During the hearing, Otieno revealed that he took some photos using his smartphones, including that of the police shooting towards the crowd, and later shared them with two activists and an international journalist through his Twitter handle.
The inquest will proceed on June 9, 2025, before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo.
