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Let him die, witness recalls what police officer said after shooting Rex Masai
A poultry farmer who took part in the anti-government protests against Finance Bill 2024 in June last year has given a chilling account of how activist Rex Masai was fatally wounded and no one came to his aid.
Mekatilili Mweru, who testified at the resumed inquest into the cause of Rex Masai's death, recalled how an unidentified police officer shouted 'Muwacheni akufe' (let him die).
Mweru said she saw Rex bleeding profusely and lying in a pool of blood as police aggressively attacked unarmed Gen Z protesters.
She said officers fired live bullets at the protesters and fired tear gas canisters, filling the air with clouds of smoke.
Mweru, who was accompanied by her friend Laban Njoroge, recounted the ordeal to Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo.
The protester recounted the frightening moments of the encounter as the Gen Z demonstrators chanted "Ruto must go" and sang against the Finance Bill.
Mweru told the inquest that on June 24, 2024, police officers cracked down on protesters in Nairobi's central business district.
She said Njoroge pointed to a young man lying in a pool of blood.
"At that moment, I heard one of the officers shout, 'Muwacheni akufie hapo( Let him die there)'," she testified.
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Led in her evidence by a prosecutor, Mweru said: "I did not see the particular officer who uttered those words."
She described the scene as chaotic and said police used excessive force to disperse protesters.
"They were beating us at the same time... I was injured on my right hand. Apart from my head, they were beating us everywhere," she said.
Mweru added that the protests had remained peaceful until around 5pm, when the police moved in aggressively and attacked everyone.
As the protesters dispersed, she and Laban found themselves on Moi Avenue, surrounded by officers armed with long guns and batons.
"There was tear gas all day, and sometimes the explosions made us wonder if it was just tear gas or something more," she said.
During the escape, Laban stumbled and fell.
She stopped to help him, but they were quickly overpowered.
"We were afraid to run because we thought they'd shoot us from behind. We decided to stay and shield ourselves," the witness recalled.
It was in this moment of desperation that Laban saw the bleeding young man and heard the officer's chilling remark.
The witness told the magistrate that the demonstrators had no leaders - only placards and a common cause.
The inquest into the tragic death of Rex Masai will continue on March 14, 2025.
The prosecution will present more evidence about what happened when Nairobi came to a standstill.
The hearing continues.