GSU Officer Killed by Arrow Outside State House Gate

A General Service Unit (GSU) officer was killed on Monday morning after being struck in the chest with an arrow outside Nairobi’s State House. 

The suspect, a 56-year-old man identified as Kithuka Kimunyi, was arrested at the scene and is currently in custody. The incident occurred at Gate D, a restricted access point reserved for presidential staff and authorised personnel. The victim, Police Constable Ramadhan Hamisi Matanka, was reportedly engaged in a prolonged conversation with the suspect moments before the attack.

CCTV footage shows Kimunyi arriving at the gate at around 7:58am, dressed in grey trousers and wearing a traditional Maasai shuka. He was carrying a sack that appeared to contain personal belongings. For approximately 17 minutes, he and PC Matanka spoke inside the screening booth, without any visible signs of conflict.

At 8:10am, Kimunyi is seen removing a concealed bow and arrow from his sack and shooting the officer in the chest. At the time of the attack, two other officers stationed nearby were occupied with inspecting a vehicle. Matanka collapsed at the scene and was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Initial reports had described the assailant as an unidentified individual who approached the gate suspiciously. However, investigators now believe that Kimunyi and the officer may have known each other, and that the attack may have stemmed from a personal dispute.

Sources close to the investigation say the two men had interacted on previous occasions at various State House entry points where PC Matanka had been deployed. This emerging information has led detectives to consider a possible motive linked to a failed agreement or a strained relationship.

A senior investigator, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the nature of the interaction appeared familiar, and the calculated manner of the attack indicated premeditation rather than a random act of violence. The official report filed at Kilimani Police Station states that the attacker struck during a moment when security personnel were distracted. 

However, inconsistencies between this account and eyewitness reports have prompted a broader inquiry into the sequence of events. Kimunyi was apprehended by another GSU officer while attempting to flee the scene. He is undergoing psychiatric evaluation at an undisclosed medical facility. Authorities have not confirmed whether he has a history of mental illness, saying the assessment is part of standard procedure.

The incident has raised concerns about the effectiveness of security procedures at State House. Investigators are examining how the suspect was able to approach a secure gate carrying a weapon and engage an officer for an extended period without intervention.

Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja expressed condolences to the officer’s family and praised the swift action of the officers who detained the suspect. He described the attack as “heinous” and said investigations are ongoing to establish the full motive.

Matanka’s family, in accordance with Islamic customs, had planned to bury him the same day. However, the burial has been temporarily delayed to allow for a post-mortem examination as part of the investigation.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), including officers from the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, have joined the case. They are reviewing surveillance footage and analysing digital records from the officer’s mobile phone for any evidence of prior communication with the suspect.