Fresh details have emerged about the fatal attack at State House, Nairobi, after CCTV footage suggested that the slain General Service Unit (GSU) officer and his alleged killer may have known each other.
According to police reports, 56-year-old Kithuka Kimunyi was loitering around State House Gate D on Monday morning when he allegedly shot Constable Ramadhan Hamisi Matanka in the chest with an arrow.
The officer later died while receiving treatment at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
But multiple sources familiar with the ongoing investigation told this publication that the CCTV footage reviewed by detectives shows that the two men were engaged in a prolonged conversation before the attack occurred.
For about 17 minutes, Kimunyi, dressed in grey trousers and a Maasai shuka, stood with Matanka at the screening area of Gate D, an entrance typically reserved for the President’s guests and authorised staff.
Security sources say the footage, recorded shortly before 8 a.m., shows the two interacting casually.
Investigators now believe Kimunyi may have been known to Matanka and possibly other officers stationed at the gate.
“The officer (Matanka) did not appear apprehensive even as the suspect approached him,” a police officer familiar with the probe said.
At 8:10 a.m., the footage shows Kimunyi pulling a bow and arrow from a sack he was carrying and striking Matanka on the left side of his chest.
The attack happened while two other GSU officers were busy screening a vehicle nearby.
Moments later, the injured officer collapsed as his colleagues rushed to assist him.
He was taken to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he succumbed to the injury while being attended to at the emergency bay.
Investigators have also established that Matanka and Kimunyi may have met several times before.
Preliminary checks on the officer’s phone records and access logs at State House indicate that the two had previously interacted at various gates within the compound.
Sources close to the inquiry said detectives are working with two theories: that the pair may have fallen out during their 17-minute conversation, or that the killing was linked to a personal dispute or a failed arrangement.
Kimunyi allegedly attempted to flee the scene but was subdued by another GSU officer who gave chase. He was later taken to an undisclosed facility for a mental assessment.
The Kilimani Divisional Criminal Investigation Officer (DCIO), Mahat Hassan, said Kimunyi was seen loitering near the State House perimeter before Matanka approached him out of curiosity. This account aligns with the initial police incident report, which reads:
“Unknown assailant advanced to officers manning the entrance to a protected government facility as two officers searched motor vehicles. He (assailant) drew a bow with an arrow and stabbed PC Ramadhan Khamisi Matanka on the left side of the chest, bleeding profusely. He was subdued, and the injured officer rushed to KNH in a critical condition but succumbed to the injuries while being attended to at the emergency bay,” the report filed by GSU officer Daniel Kemboi states.
Matanka’s family had planned to bury him on Monday evening in accordance with Islamic traditions, but police requested a brief postponement to allow a post-mortem examination to be conducted today.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau have since joined the probe and are reviewing the footage as well as interviewing officers who were on duty at the time.
Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja sent his condolences to the family and praised officers who acted swiftly to restrain the suspect.
“The National Police Service condemns this heinous act and commends the officers for their swift response, which prevented further harm. An investigation is ongoing to establish the motive of the attack,” Mr Kanja said.
Constable Matanka was attached to Company G of the GSU, which had been deployed to guard State House entrances barely three months ago.
