The case, which has drawn national attention, highlights growing concerns about police conduct during protests.
Rex Masai, a young protester advocating against the controversial Finance Bill, succumbed to a gunshot wound to the thigh, which caused excessive bleeding.
According to testimonies, the shooting occurred near the Kenya National Archives during a heated demonstration in Nairobi's Central Business District (CBD).
Masai's death has since become a symbol of the risks faced by protesters in Kenya.
During the court proceedings, Constable Benson Kamau and Corporal Isaiah Ndumba were called to testify but denied any role in Masai’s death.
Kamau stated he was not in the CBD at the time, claiming he was undercover near the Kileleshwa-Parklands junction gathering intelligence.
"We were deployed in civilian clothing along Uhuru Highway to monitor activities.
The area was calm, and I returned my firearm around 6 PM," Kamau testified.
He added that since the incident, he has faced accusations from youth groups implicating him in the killing, which he denied.
On his part, Corporal Ndumba testified that he was stationed near the Kenya International Conference Centre (KICC), equipped with a tear gas launcher.
He denied interacting with demonstrators or using tear gas during the protests.
"I did not fire tear gas or have a weapon capable of causing Masai’s death. The accusations are either malicious or based on mistaken identity," Ndumba explained.
The emotional testimony of Masai’s mother, Gillian Munyao, provided a harrowing account of the events leading to her son's death.
She described how Masai was among demonstrators teargassed near the Kenya National Archives before being shot.
A friend informed her that Masai was missing after an unidentified officer allegedly opened fire on protesters.
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