“We Can’t Tell Who Fired the Bullet,” Bungei Testifies in Rex Masai’s Murder Inquest

Former Nairobi County Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei has told a court that no operational order was in place on the day Gen Z activist Rex Masai was shot and killed during protests in the capital. He also stated that it has become nearly impossible to determine which gun fired the fatal shot.

Testifying in an inquest into the killing, Bungei explained that security forces, including officers from the National Youth Service (NYS) and Kenya Prisons Service (KPS), were deployed spontaneously in response to the demonstrations.

He admitted that the absence of an operational order meant there was no official record detailing the security personnel on duty at the time, making it difficult to establish who fired the fatal shot.

“There was a situation within the Central Business District (CBD) starting from 8 a.m., prompted by social media communication suggesting a demonstration led by a group called Gen Z,” Bungei stated. He added that the protests escalated by late morning, drawing a large crowd, which prompted security forces to intervene.

Bungei likened the unrest to the lawlessness seen in the Democratic Republic of Congo, emphasizing that security agencies acted swiftly to prevent Kenya from descending into chaos.

However, he later distanced himself from certain statements in his written testimony, suggesting they may have been misinterpreted.

Former Nairobi County Police Commander Dorris Mugambi also testified, denying any official report of gunfire. She argued that only a ballistic expert could determine who fired the shot that killed Masai.

Bungei reinforced this position, stating that police only confirmed the cause of Masai’s death after a postmortem revealed he had succumbed to a gunshot wound.

“I wish to state that at that time, no police officer knew what kind of injury the victim had sustained. It was only confirmed to be a gunshot wound when the postmortem was conducted on June 21, 2024,” he told the court.

Authorities maintain that the protests were infiltrated by unknown elements, complicating investigations into the killing. With no clear records of officers deployed that day, the inquest into Masai’s death continues to face challenges in identifying those responsible.

Masai, a prominent figure in the youth-led Gen Z movement, was shot on June 20, 2024, during anti-government protests. His death sparked public outrage and intensified calls for police accountability in handling demonstrations.