How Babu Owino Helped Family of Protester Shot in Nairobi

• Rex Masai's burial arrangements are currently underway after he succumbed to the gunshot wounds he sustained on Thursday
• The 29-year-old was among the protesters opposing the unpopular Finance Bill 2024 when a live bullet caught him
• Embakasi East MP Babu Owino promised to stand with the bereaved family in the trying times, giving out KSh 200 toward the interment

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has pledged financial support to the late Rex Masai's family toward his burial.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino (centre) engaging the late Rex Masai's parents. Photo: Babu Owino. Source: Facebook

The lawmaker announced wiring KSh 200,000 to the family to send off their kin decently.

He said after meeting them at the City Mortuary where the body was taken.

"I gave a contribution of KES200,000 to Rex’s parents to assist in funeral arrangements. I call upon Kenyans to stand with the family of this fallen hero at this difficult time through their paybill and give whatever little they can," he said.

The MP underscored the need for Kenyans to continue fighting for their rights in honour of their fallen colleague.

"We will make sure your sacrifice is not in vain Friend. Go well and pass our regards to our founding fathers, let them know the struggle lives on!" he said.

Meanwhile, the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) is undertaking a probe into the shooting of Rex Masai.

The 29-year-old died by gunshot allegedly perpetrated by a plain-cloth officer who was repulsing protesters in the city on Thursday, June 20.

IPOA chair Anne Makori said it has contacted the deceased's family and documented their account as they began the investigations.

Rex, 29, was shot on Thursday, June 20, allegedly by the police in the fever pitch of the anti-finance bill protests in Nairobi.

The unarmed man was allegedly shot by a plain-cloth law enforcer.

His rescuers put up makeshift structures to attend to him before he was rushed to the Bliss Medical Centre, where he was confirmed dead.

Emmanuel Kimang'a, a doctor at Bliss, said Rex might have bled to death after being shot in the upper part of the thigh.

The deceased's body was taken to the City Mortuary.

Kenyans on the X social network mourned him as their martyr in the face of their revolt against the government.

Under the #RIPRex and #JusticeForRex banners on the site, the agitated netizens demanded accountability from the agencies of the state which they asked to get to the bottom of the matter and unmask the assailant officer.

At the same time, CNN's international correspondent Larry Madowo acceded to the requests to help seek justice for Rex.

What request was made to Larry Madowo?

Gutted Kenyans sought to leverage the audience of the journalist to air the atrocity meted out on the deceased.

However, he would only partake in the probe and air it in the event he was in receipt of authentic videos and footage capturing the moments Rex was shot.

Rex Masai's tragic end in demos

• The 29-year-old joined other youths in protests to oppose the tax-laden Finance Bill 2024, which the National Assembly passed to the next stage.
• He was part of the group that stayed in the city late, with a supposed police officer shooting him in the thigh.
• Rex's body had been taken to the City Mortuary in Nairobi ahead of postmortem and burial plans.

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