NAIROBI, Kenya — The inquest into the death of 29-year-old Gen-Z protester Rex Masai has closed after an IPOA forensic expert testified that CCTV footage presented before the court showed no evidence of deletion, alteration or manipulation.
Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) Senior Assistant Director of Forensics Joshua Mutua told Milimani Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo on Monday that a digital forensic examination had established the integrity of the video evidence.
Mutua said the footage was retrieved by IPOA using a USB flash disk before being subjected to forensic analysis.
“The videos were subjected to digital forensic analysis, and no form of deletion, alteration or editing was detected,” Mutua told the court.
He further said the digital evidence presented during the inquest remained in its original form.
“The videos and all digital evidence presented before the inquest were as originally captured, without any form of intentional manipulation,” he said.
Forensic examination finds no alteration
Mutua told the court that the footage was internally consistent in both its temporal sequence and visual continuity.
He said the video, which runs for one minute and 15 seconds, was recorded on June 20, 2024, beginning at approximately 7.18 pm.
The expert said his examination found no technical or intentional changes to the recording.
“Your Honour, I further found that no technical or intentional alteration, insertion, deletion, duplication, splicing, or rearrangement of video content was identified during the examination,” Mutua said.
He added that he signed the reviewed file footage certificate on July 31, 2026.
The evidence was significant to the inquest because the CCTV footage has formed part of the material used by the court to examine the circumstances surrounding Masai’s fatal shooting during the June 2024 Anti-Finance Bill protests.
Inquest closes after two years
Mutua’s testimony marked the conclusion of oral evidence in an inquest that has taken about two years.
The proceedings heard evidence from 30 witnesses, while 48 exhibits were presented before the court.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Director Jalson Makori, informed the magistrate that it was closing its case after calling its witnesses.
The closure of oral evidence means the parties will now move to the submissions stage before the magistrate considers the evidence and makes his determination.
Police officer identified as main suspect
Masai was fatally shot during demonstrations against the Finance Bill in June 2024, with the inquest examining the circumstances surrounding his death.
Evidence presented during the proceedings included photographs and video footage concerning police officer Isaiah Murangiri Ndumba, who was identified during the proceedings as the main suspect.
A protected witness, identified as GG, previously told the court that she had identified similarities between photographs she captured during the protests and the officer.
The witness pointed to features including clothing, wristbands and other items visible in the photographs.
Murangiri has denied that he was the person captured in the images.
Witness points to photographs
During one of the sessions, the court was shown photographs of a civilian officer wearing a black cap, dark grey short-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, a black mask and white sports shoes while holding a walkie-talkie.
The witness also drew attention to two wristbands visible in the photographs.
The evidence forms part of the broader material the magistrate will consider when determining the circumstances surrounding Masai’s death.
The forensic testimony, however, dealt specifically with the integrity of the digital footage rather than determining who was responsible for the shooting.
Family, police do not oppose closure
The family of the deceased and the National Police Service were represented by Law Society of Kenya lawyer Mwangi Chege.
Chege did not object to the closure of the inquest after the prosecution concluded its oral evidence.
With the evidentiary phase now complete, the parties will have an opportunity to make written submissions before the magistrate makes his determination.
The conclusion of the inquest does not itself amount to a finding of criminal liability against any individual. The magistrate’s eventual determination will follow consideration of the evidence and submissions presented by the parties.
Submissions to follow
The matter will next be mentioned virtually on September 24, 2026, at 11.30 am for further directions.
By then, the parties are expected to have filed their written submissions for consideration by the court.
The forensic evidence presented on Monday establishes, according to the expert’s examination, that the CCTV footage had not been technically manipulated.
The court will now consider that evidence alongside the testimony of the 30 witnesses and the 48 exhibits presented during the two-year proceedings.
