The inquest into the killing of protester Rex Kanyike Masai resumes today in Nairobi, amid a fresh legal tussle over whether police firearms records should be disclosed to the inquiry.
At the centre of the dispute is an application filed by Corporal Fredrick Okapesi, an armorer with the National Police Service (NPS), who is challenging a court order directing him to produce the Arms Movement Register — the official log that tracks the issuance and return of police firearms.
In court papers filed on September 25, Okapesi argued that the order violates due process and risks exposing sensitive national security information.
The documents in question were requested by the inquest investigating the circumstances surrounding Masai’s death during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, where police officers clashed with demonstrators along Moi Avenue in Nairobi.
Okapesi contends that the court failed to record his objections before issuing the order and that the directive contravenes sections 80, 81, and 82 of the Evidence Act, which outline procedures for producing public records in judicial proceedings.
He further expressed concern about the chain of custody, warning that the integrity of the firearms register could be compromised once it is handed over to the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), which is overseeing aspects of the investigation.
