Constable Klinzy Masinde Barasa, the police officer accused of fatally shooting a mask vendor Boniface Kariuki Mwangi, appeared before the Milimani High Court on Thursday July 10, 2025 to face murder charges.

Masinde, however, did not plead to the charges after Justice Kanyi Kimondo ordered a mental assessment to determine his fitness to stand trial.

“You will not plead to the charge today,” said Justice Kimondo.

 “You will be removed from police custody and you will be remanded at Nairobi Remand. You shall be escorted to Mbagathi District Hospital or Kenyatta National Hospital, or indeed any other convenient government facility for mental assessment. Plea is accordingly deferred to July 28, 2025.”

The judge, however, informed Masinde that he is charged with murder contrary to Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.

“The particulars of the charge indicate that on June 17, 2025, outside Imenti House in Nairobi’s Central Business District, within Nairobi County, you shot Boniface Kariuki Mwangi,” the judge informed the officer.

Justice Kimondo further stated: “The High Court has received information dated July 9, 2025, under the hand of Gikui Gichuhi, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, charging you with murder.”

Justice Kimondo scheduled Masinde’s plea-taking for July 28, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in an open court.

Masinde was arraigned before the High Court after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) approved murder charges following investigations into the shooting incident, which was reportedly captured on video.

The ruling came moments after a Milimani law court had released the second suspect, Constable Duncan Kiprono, and closed the miscellaneous application against him after the DPP stated they would not be charging him with the Murder.

Trial Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi ruled that there were insufficient grounds to continue detaining Kiprono in connection with Kariuki’s killing.