IPOA revealed that they had several teams working on the case with one having witnessed and documented the post-mortem on the body of Rex.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has revealed that the Authority was in the process of confirming the identity of the officer suspected to have shot at 29-year-old Rex Kanyike Masai on Thursday evening.
According to a progress update of its investigations issued on Saturday evening, June 22, IPOA revealed that they had several teams working on the case with one having witnessed and documented the post-mortem on the body of Rex.
The exercise confirmed that he had died due to excessive blood loss caused by a gunshot wound to the left thigh. Government Pathologist Johansen Oduor revealed that Masai had suffered muscle fractures caused by the gunshot.
Photo of the late Rex Kanyike Masai. /BONIFACE MWANGI
“IPOA has also recorded witness statements and is currently at the scene of the shooting, undertaking investigation,” stated IPOA in part.
Whereas the Authority is in the process of identifying and confirming the suspected officer, members of the public are demanding that the suspected officer be arrested and prosecuted in a court of law.
Additionally, with more public involvement and a keen eye on the investigations, on Sunday morning the governor of Machakos County, Wavinya Ndeti announced that she had catered to all funeral expenses at Lee Funeral Home ahead of Rex’s burial.
“I also got to know that Rex’s mother comes from Kamuthanga, Machakos. On Friday 21st of June, I personally catered for the transfer of the body of our young hero, the late Rex from City Mortuary to Lee Funeral Home, and covered all expenses in full awaiting his burial,” stated Wavinya.
The governor also condemned the incident citing that the police officers had used unnecessarily lethal force in dispersing the anti-finance bill protests.
This came in the back of outrage witnessed in the country following the death of Rex. Later, news emerged that 21-year-old Evans Kiratu lost his life on Saturday while attending the protests on Thursday.
Police officers have been under criticism for their handling of the anti-Finance Bill protests which have been going on across various parts of Kenya.
Protestors react after police use teargas to disperse them during a demonstration against the proposed finance bill 2024/2025 in Nairobi. /REUTERS