How Did IPOA Expose Murangiri’s Claim of Being Off Duty?
Corporal Isaiah Murangiri Ndumba, the police officer at the center of the Rex Masai shooting investigation, faced intense scrutiny in court after the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) presented compelling evidence that challenged his alibi. Murangiri had claimed he was off duty on June 18, 2024, tending to his sick child. However, IPOA investigators projected photos and video footage in court that placed a man believed to be him at a protest scene, armed with a tear gas launcher and dressed in a blue shirt, black cap, and a wristband bearing Kenyan-themed art.
The most damning detail came in the form of a birthmark visible beneath the officer’s left ear, matching one seen on the man in the photos. Still, Murangiri denied it was him. “I’m not the one,” he told the court. He insisted he was only on duty on June 20, the day Rex Masai was shot in Nairobi’s CBD. IPOA countered that photographic and phone data showed Murangiri had likely been working in plain clothes during the protests, well before the day of the shooting.
What Was the Officer’s Defense in Court?
Murangiri stuck to his story, stating he reported to work on June 20 and was stationed near the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). He added that the officers were part of a special operation under the Alpha Mike unit, acting under the command of the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) rather than the Officer Commanding Station (OCS). When pressed about the photographic evidence, Murangiri firmly responded, “Your honour, I’m saying the truth. I’m not lying to this court.”
Despite his claims, IPOA’s Assistant Director of Forensics, Paul Njihia, clarified to the court that Rex Masai had died from a live bullet wound, not from tear gas exposure, emphasizing the seriousness of the matter.
Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo, unconvinced by the officer’s denials, ordered that three additional officers appear before IPOA. He also instructed that the original arms register be surrendered immediately to aid the investigation. The inquest continues at Milimani Law Courts on Thursday, July 17, at 2 p.m., with the search for justice for Rex Masai pressing forward.
By Lucky Anyanje
