Calls for accountability in the death of activist Rex Masai have taken a new turn as both the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority have moved to have Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat appear before the court.
The two institutions believe that his testimony could be central to unearthing what really happened during the protests in Nairobi where Rex Masai lost his life.
Rex Masai’s death earlier this year sparked widespread outrage across the country, drawing attention to what many described as excessive use of force by the police during demonstrations.
His case quickly became a symbol of public frustration over police brutality and the slow pace of justice in such incidents.
The inquest currently ongoing at the Milimani Law Courts has been closely watched by activists, legal experts, and human rights defenders who are demanding transparency and accountability from those in command at the time.
During the latest court session, lawyers representing both the ODPP and IPOA told the magistrate that Mr. Lagat’s testimony was essential to clarify the chain of command during the protest.
They argued that as Deputy Inspector General, he oversaw police operations across the city and was responsible for giving directives on deployment, crowd control, and the use of firearms.
The lawyers maintained that only Lagat could provide the court with a clear picture of how decisions were made and who was responsible for authorizing certain actions that day.
The prosecution also noted that while several police officers have already recorded statements, there are still major gaps in the evidence that need to be addressed.
IPOA investigators have indicated that some of these gaps relate to communication between field officers and their superiors at the height of the protests.
They believe that Lagat’s account could bridge these inconsistencies and help determine whether officers on the ground followed proper procedures as required by law.
The legal representatives further emphasized that the family of Rex Masai deserves a thorough and transparent process. They said that bringing senior officers like the Deputy IG to testify would demonstrate fairness and commitment to uncovering the truth.
The lawyers also pointed out that accountability should not stop with junior officers, but extend to those who were in charge of overall command decisions.
The court is now reviewing the submissions and is expected to rule soon on whether Eliud Lagat will be summoned to testify. In the meantime, the inquest continues to hear from witnesses, including members of the public, police officers who were deployed during the protests, and medical experts who handled the postmortem examination.
Many Kenyans are hoping that the inquiry will bring justice to Rex Masai’s family and set a precedent for holding police officers accountable in similar cases in the future.
