Amidst the commotion, the camera captured an individual believed to be a plain clothes police officer brandishing a firearm and opening fire in a bid to chase away the protesting crowd.
A video emerged on Thursday, June 20 showing the final moments before a young man was killed during protests against Finance Bill 2024 after being shot by the police in Nairobi City’s Central Business District (CBD).
The clip seen by Viral Tea showed a large group of protesters marching near Kimathi Street in peace before they were prompted to turn back amidst gunshots renting the air from police officers guarding the City Hall premises.
Amidst the commotion, the camera captured an individual believed to be a plain clothes police officer brandishing a firearm and opening fire in a bid to chase away the protesting crowd.
It later emerged through numerous social media reports that the individual was identified as Rex Kanyike Masai who lost his life after he was inflicted by gunshot wounds, despite being unarmed and peacefully protesting.
Here is the video (WARNING: SOME VIEWERS MAY FIND THIS DISTURBING)
There has been a casualty????
His name is Rex. He was shot by police and pronounced dead at 20:05.
Let @KarimKhanQC and the @court_criminal @amnesty know that @NPSOfficial_KE @IG_NPS has authorized the use of live ammunition on innocent protestors. pic.twitter.com/KtgPIpvIN1
— Francis Gaitho (@FGaitho237) June 20, 2024
Confirming the incident, activist Boniface Mwangi, who is one of the organisers of ‘Occupy Parliament’ protests, revealed that he met with the deceased’s mother on their way to City Mortuary.
“I have met with Rex’s mum, and we are on our way to City Mortuary. Since it’s a homicide, the police have said the body has to be booked in a public mortuary.Â
“After the post-mortem, we shall move Rex. Her name is Gillian Munyao, and a killer cop just shattered her life forever,” Mwangi posted on his social media, also sharing an update on the mother and father’s visit to the morgue where they expressed shock and numbness over the loss of their son.
Rex’s death sent shockwaves across social media with many netizens mourning the loss of a fellow young comrade who was joining Gen Zs in a redefined form of protests across the country.
This comes after Amnesty International Kenya revealed in an earlier statement that at least 200 people were injured in Nairobi during the protests, with their injuries ranging from soft tissue injuries and inhalation of tear gas.Â
50 people were referred for further specialized treatment. Furthermore, there were five casualties from rubber bullet injuries, police tear gas canisters and batons.
“6 people were hit by cars while running away from police officers. There is confirmation of live shootings verified by the presence of spent cartridges,” stated Amnesty in part.
While the identity of the officer who reportedly shot at Kanyike is yet to be established by the time of publishing this article, and the National Police Service (NPS) yet to speak on what is emerging as another extrajudicial killing, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome warned Kenyans protesting against the Finance Bill against trying to occupy government infrastructure including Parliament Buildings and State House.
“With utmost respect to the provisions of Article 37 of the Constitution stipulating the right of citizens to assemble, demonstrate and picket, the Service will neither condone nor approve efforts by demonstrators to either occupy critical government infrastructure including Parliament Buildings, or disrupt the ongoing Parliamentary proceedings,” stated the IG in part.
Nonetheless, Kanyike’s death sparked outrage and calls for justice, with many demanding accountability from the police and the government.
