A Nairobi police officer, Constable Klinzy Baraza Masinde, has officially denied charges of murdering face mask vendor Boniface Kariuki Mwangi during a fatal shooting that occurred outside Imenti House in the Central Business District (CBD) on June 17, 2025.
Masinde entered a not guilty plea before High Court Judge Kanyi Kimondo on Monday, during a session attended by prosecution counsel Vincent Monda, who confirmed that the accused had undergone and passed a mental fitness evaluation.
“Mental assessment conducted by government psychiatrist Dr. Priscila Makau, dated July 21, 2025, declared him fit to stand trial,” Monda informed the court.
Details of the Fatal Shooting
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the incident involved the unlawful shooting of 29-year-old Mwangi, a street vendor who had been selling face masks near Imenti House. Mwangi reportedly suffered a close-range gunshot wound to the head. An autopsy report conducted by government pathologist Dr. Bernard Midia and Dr. Peter Ndegwa, a family-appointed expert, revealed multiple bullet fragments lodged in the victim’s brain.
Witness accounts and CCTV footage retrieved from nearby buildings form part of the prosecution’s evidence. The defense team, however, maintains that the shooting was unintentional and that further investigation is necessary to establish the officer’s intent.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Constable Baraza is charged with murder, contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of Kenya’s Penal Code, which stipulates life imprisonment or a death sentence upon conviction. Kenya’s Penal Code clearly defines murder as the unlawful killing of another human being with malice aforethought.
Justice Kimondo ordered that the pre-trial hearing be scheduled for next month, where both parties will present preliminary applications.
Public Reaction and Past Incidents
The killing sparked protests across Nairobi, with human rights groups and civil society activists calling for justice. Organizations such as Amnesty International Kenya and KHRC have previously condemned what they termed as a “disturbing pattern of extrajudicial killings by law enforcement.”
The case mirrors previous high-profile police brutality cases in Kenya, including the death of Baby Pendo and the 2017 protests where numerous civilians were killed under suspicious circumstances.
For more in-depth reports on crime and justice in Kenya, visit our crime and court section.
What Next for the Accused?
Constable Baraza remains in custody at Industrial Area Remand Prison pending further mention of the case. His legal team is expected to apply for bail in the coming weeks, though the state has already indicated it will oppose bail based on the seriousness of the charge.
Follow ongoing updates on this case and other trending legal stories at sauce.co.ke.
