Police Constable Klinzy Masinde Barasa has denied killing street vendor Boniface Kariuki Mwangi during a confrontation outside Imenti House in Nairobi on June 17.
Barasa entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of murder following the release of a mental assessment report dated July 21, 2025, by government psychiatrist Dr Priscila Makau, which declared him mentally fit to stand trial.
With the assessment confirming his fitness, the court proceeded to take the plea as earlier scheduled.
Barasa is facing charges of murder under Section 203 as read with Section 204 of the Penal Code.
During the proceedings, his defence team applied for release on bond. However, the prosecution opposed the application, informing the court that the Republic had filed an affidavit detailing its objections to granting bond.
A lawyer representing the family of the deceased also opposed the bond request, aligning with the prosecution and urging the court to deny the officer’s release.
The court is expected to rule on the bond application after reviewing the submissions.
