Witness George Ndikas recounts harrowing moments during Rex Masai shooting
By Zipporah Ngwatu, March 30, 2026George Ndikas, a close and long-time friend who has known the late Rex Masai since 2013, has told the court that it was Rex who informed him he had been shot.
Testifying before Milimani Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo on Monday, March 30, 2026, he told the court that when they got near ABSA Bank in town, they heard gunshots.
He informed the court that on that day, June 20, 2024, they had arrived in the Central Business District (CBD) at around 4:30 pm, where they joined Gen Z for the anti-finance bill protests.
Ndikas told the court that at around 7 pm, they were walking peacefully in town before police came and started throwing tear gas at them, and the people at the frontline took an about-turn.
“Venye ikafika a moment wale watu wa mbele wakaanza kutolewa mbio na police, wakaanza kukimbizwa. Police walikua wanatumia teargas. Sisi ambao tulikuwa watu wa mwisho, watu wakapiga about-turn, ikawa sisi tumekuwa wa kwanza on the other side yenye haikukuwa na makarao,” Ndikas told the court.
The court heard that after the about-turn, while at the ABSA Bank, the protesters heard three gunshots.
“Venye tuli turn tulipita ABSA Bank na hatukua tunaaribu mali ndo tukaanza kuskia gunshots three times zikifuatana,” Ndikas told the court.
It was at that time that Rex asked him how they would reunite in case they lost each other in the fracas, since Ndikas had not carried his phone to the demonstrations.
In response, Ndikas told Rex that he would make sure to follow him everywhere he went, and in case he could not keep up, they agreed they would meet at Afya Centre.
As he followed Rex, he discovered that Rex was limping, and when he got to him and enquired what was wrong, Rex said he had been shot.
“Nilijaribu kufuata Rex alafu nikaona aki limp na venye nilimfikia nikamuuliza ni nini mbaya akaniambia ameshootiwa na sikua naamini at first,” Ndikas told the court.
The court heard that even after telling his friend he had been shot, Rex was still running for his life. Ndika asked him if they could take a taxi to the hospital so he could be attended to.
“At that time alikua na nguvu ya kukimbia bado, then I asked him si tuchukue taxi twende hospi, but taxi walikua hapo wanakataa juu police walikua hapo,” Ndikas testified.
However, as they were trying to get to the hospital, he noticed that Rex was weakening, noting that his leg was soaking in blood.
“Then akawa ameanza kuishiwa nguvu akawa anajaribu kusimama alinionyesha kwa mguu na alikua analowa damu,” the witness told the court.