Rex Masai inquest: Safaricom data puts suspect Murangiri at Nairobi CBD during protests

A Safaricom officer testifying in the inquest into the death of Rex Masai has revealed mobile phone records that placed police officer Isaiah Murangiri at key locations within Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) during the period under investigation.

According to the records, Murangiri’s number was active on June 20, 2024, at St. Ellis House between 11:20 a.m. and later from 3:56 p.m. to 6:21 p.m., before being traced to Kencom.

"Between 15:39 all the way to 21:20, the number was picked several times by St.Ellis Site apart from one picked at Kencom Site,” he testified.

The court further heard that while one of Murangiri’s other registered numbers showed only a single SMS within the CBD, and a third number carried no data, a separate line produced data captures between June 18 and 19.

These included call activity at Windsor House, Accra Road, and Corner House, indicating sustained presence in the city centre.

Another line, registered to Benson Thiru Kamau, was logged at the KBC Tower from 5:00 p.m. on the same days, while a number under Michael Okello showed no activity on June 19.

Murangiri, a suspect in the murder inquest, had earlier claimed he had “seized” the number in question.

When asked if it was possible for the line to have been active a year earlier — in June 2023 — the officer said he would need to verify the records.

However, he confirmed that, based on the details presented before the court, the registered owner of the number as at the time of the court order was Isaiah Murangiri.  

“On the 20th, the number was under the name of Isaiah Murangiri,” the officer testified. “The line was active on June 20, 2024.”

He clarified that what is captured is not necessarily the actual location of the subscriber.