The inquest into the death of protester Rex Masai has been told that investigators were unable to establish the identity of the police officer who fired the fatal shot during the June 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations.
The court heard testimony from Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) principal investigator Justin Nyatete, who said he compiled a full case file after concluding investigations. The file included witness statements, collected evidence, and an overall summary of findings, which was subsequently submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Nyatete told the court that he recommended an inquest instead of criminal charges, citing insufficient evidence to directly link any individual officer to the fatal shooting.
“At the time, I had recorded statements from about 19 witnesses. Based on the material gathered, I felt there was insufficient evidence to prefer charges against any person. The DPP agreed with that recommendation, and that is why we are here today,” he said.
The court further heard that additional photographs and video material obtained later did not change the original findings of the investigation.
The investigator also outlined several challenges encountered during the probe, including difficulties in preserving the crime scene and what was described as limited cooperation from the National Police Service.
Although investigators were still able to place the deceased at the scene and gather supporting material, key forensic evidence was never recovered. This included the bullet that killed Masai, spent cartridges, and the firearm allegedly used in the shooting.
The inquest continues as the court examines whether further investigative steps can establish accountability for the killing.
