A General Service Unit (GSU) officer identified as Ramadhan Mattanka has died after being struck by an arrow while manning Gate D at State House, Nairobi. The shocking incident occurred after a man identified as Kithuka attempted to force his way into the heavily guarded compound.
An autopsy report released on Tuesday, October 14, revealed that the arrow pierced through Mattanka’s left seventh and eighth ribs, went through the left lung, and punctured the heart, leading to his death. The officer was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Mattanka, a Muslim, will be buried today in Kajiado County. His burial had been temporarily delayed after investigators requested more time to complete their probe.
According to police reports, the assailant, Kithuka, disguised himself as a member of a street family and carried a sack containing a bow and arrows. After being turned away, he allegedly hid behind a car near the gate, waiting for an opportunity. When two officers became distracted while clearing a vehicle, he launched a surprise attack on Mattanka.
Other GSU officers at the scene quickly subdued and arrested the suspect moments after the assault.
However, emerging reports suggest that Mattanka and Kithuka may have known each other. Investigators reviewing CCTV footage reportedly observed a 17-minute interaction between the two before the attack, raising questions about whether a personal dispute could have triggered the incident.
The attack has raised serious concerns about security lapses at one of Kenya’s most protected installations. Authorities are now investigating whether this was a lone-wolf attack or if there was a deeper motive behind it.
As investigations continue, the nation remains in shock over how a civilian armed with primitive weapons managed to breach security and fatally wound an officer within the vicinity of the President’s residence.
