Chief Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor has testified in court that the late Rex Kanyike Masai sustained a gunshot wound from behind.
Providing his expert testimony before Milimani Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Dr. Oduor detailed the findings from the postmortem examination he performed on June 21, 2024, at the City Mortuary in Nairobi.
Dr. Oduor explained that the gunshot trajectory indicated the bullet entered the deceased’s body from the rear, with the exit wound located at the front of the left thigh.
The pathologist appeared virtually to present these findings, which form a critical part of the ongoing judicial process regarding the circumstances of Masai’s death. The court continues to hear evidence as it seeks to determine the chain of events surrounding the incident.
Dr. Johansen Oduor confirmed that the physical evidence points to a shooter positioned behind the victim.
“These are my findings upon doing the post-mortem; there was an entry gunshot wound on the back part of the left thigh, and the measurement of the entry wound was 0.5 x 0.4 centimeters,” the pathologist testified. He further clarified the bullet’s path for the court, noting, “Your honor, the entry of the bullet was at the back, and the exit of the bullet wound was at the front.”
The witness detailed the precise location of the injury, noting that the wound sat six centimeters from the top of the thigh, aligned with the mid-inguinal line. Following his examination, Dr. Oduor reached a definitive conclusion regarding the cause of death.
“I concluded what led to the death of Rex Masai was a hemorrhage wound in his left thigh,” he testified.
During the cross-examination, Jalson Makori from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) pushed for a clear confirmation of the shooting’s direction. When Makori asked the witness to confirm if the bullet indeed struck the deceased from behind, Dr. Oduor remained firm.
“Your honor, yes, the entry of the bullet was at the back, and the exit of the bullet wound was at the front,” the pathologist told the court.
Dr. Oduor’s findings provide medical weight to the earlier account from Rex’s friend, George Ndika, who previously described the chaotic moments leading up to the shooting. Ndika told the court that the pair arrived in the Nairobi Central Business District around 4:30 pm on June 20, 2024, joining the Gen Z-led protests against the Finance Bill.
According to Ndika, the atmosphere remained peaceful until approximately 7:00 pm, when police began discharging tear gas at the crowd. This forced those at the front of the demonstration to turn back suddenly.
“Venye ikafika a moment wale watu wa mbele wakaanza kutolewa mbio na police, wakaanza kukimbizwa. Police walikua wanatumia teargas. Sisi ambao tulikuwa watu wa mwisho, watu wakapiga about-turn, ikawa sisi tumekuwa wa kwanza on the other side yenye haikukuwa na makarao,” Ndika testified.
The court heard that as the group turned to flee near the ABSA bank, three rapid gunshots rang out. Ndika clarified that the protesters were not damaging any property when the violence escalated.
“Venye tuli turn tulipita ABSA bank na hatukua tunaaribu mali ndo tukaanza kuskia gunshots three times zikifuatana,” he told the court.
Rex had grown concerned about the possibility of the two getting separated in the panic. He asked what they should do if they lost each other, to which Ndika replied that they should both simply head home.
“Rex aliniuliza tukipoteleana tutapatana aje, nikamwambia Mimi nitamfuata nyuma yeye akimbie,” he testified, recalling how he promised to follow behind if Rex ran ahead.
The situation turned dire only seconds later when Ndikas noticed his friend began to limp. He rushed to Rex’s side to check on him, and the young man shared a chilling realization: he believed a bullet had hit him. Despite the injury, Rex attempted to keep moving to escape the surrounding chaos, but his strength faded with every step.
Ndikas described a heartbreaking scene as Rex grew progressively weaker and struggled to stay upright. Though his friend tried to offer words of encouragement and suggested they find a way to a hospital, the overwhelming fear and confusion of the moment made every action difficult.
The gravity of the injury became clear when Rex showed him the wound on his leg, which was bleeding profusely.
“I saw him limping in front of me. I came close and asked him, ‘Nini mbaya?’ Rex told me Nikama ameshootiwa,” the court heard.
A stranger stepped in to assist after George explained the situation, and together they desperately sought help, even appealing to the police for aid. As more bystanders joined the effort, they lifted Rex and carried him toward a nearby hospital.
However, they arrived to find the facility’s gates locked. George informed the court of their mounting panic as they realized time was slipping away. Driven by desperation, the group forced their way into the hospital grounds, clinging to the hope that medical intervention could still save him.
By the time a doctor finally attended to him, Rex had already passed away.
