High court to rule on bail for officer accused of killing ‘Mask Vendor’ amid witness tampering fears

The High Court will deliver its ruling on whether police officer Klinzy Baraza will be granted bail on 18 December 2025, following heated submissions in a case where he is accused of killing Boniface Kariuki, popularly known as “the mask vendor.”

During Wednesday’s hearing, appearing before Justice Margaret Muigai of the Milimani High Court on November 19, 2025, the victims’ family urged the court to keep Baraza in custody until all witnesses have testified. 

The victims family lawyer, Counsel Erick Muriuki, argued that releasing the officer would pose a threat to the integrity of the proceedings.

Muriuki told the court that Baraza’s release would pose a real and immediate threat to the integrity of the case.

 He argued that the accused, still an active member of the National Police Service, retains the training, resources, and networks that could be used to interfere with witnesses.

“The family fears that if the accused is released, he might exploit his police skills, utilise the resources available to him, and the networks he created in the force to interfere with witnesses or the matter,” Muriuki said.

He also added that the concern was not speculative because Baraza remains a police officer.

"On behalf of the victims I strongly oppose the release of the accused person on bail,and if the court wants to release him on bail let it do so after all the witnesses have testified,"counsel for the victims family added.

Muriuki urged the court to consider the precedent set in Republic v Samson Kiprotich Taalam & 5 Others, popularly known as the Albert Ojwang case, where the court recognised the heightened risk of witness interference posed by serving officers.

In Courts

In response, Baraza’s lawyer Vincent Yegon argued that the accused is constitutionally entitled to bail unless compelling reasons are proven something he said the prosecution had failed to do.

Yegon pointed the court to the pre-bail report, which recommends Baraza’s release, noting that he is not a flight risk and is unlikely to interfere with witnesses. 

Further Yegon added that the report stated that the accused could comply with stringent measures by the court to ensure that will adhere to the rules of the court of not Interfering with witnesses and that their is any report that shows the accused might interfere in any way.

“My client, Klinzy Baraza, is innocent until proven guilty,and that is is upon the Prosecution to prove the compelling reasons otherwise allow bail,"Yegon submitted.

He added that Baraza is the sole breadwinner for his young family and is supporting two school-going children, saying that keeping him in custody would cause undue hardship.

 “Releasing him on bail does not mean he is free,it simply allows him to continue his life as the case progresses, while still adhering to the court’s conditions,”he said.

After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Muigai directed that the ruling on bail or bond will be delivered in an open court on 18th December 2025.