A man attacked and killed an armed police officer manning State House, Nairobi, in a shocking incident.
The assailant used a spear to commit the act outside Gate D, which is usually used by the public to access the State House.
He was on duty at the time of the incident with other colleagues when he was attacked. The spear landed on the left side of the chest, killing him.
The motive of the about 11 am incident was not immediately established.
The officer attached to the General Service Unit’s G Company was pronounced dead on arrival at the Kenyatta National Hospital. He has bled profusely by the time he arrived at the hospital, officials said.
The assailant was arrested at the scene and taken for grilling amid panic. It is not clear if the assailant knew the slain officer. The area where the attack took place is usually a security clearing zone before motorists and pedestrians drive and walk to State House, respectively.
The incident sent panic at the State House as it happened as President William Ruto was therein and planning to leave for Konza City in Machakos County.
Security was heightened as an alarm was raised by the colleagues of the slain officer. Police said they had a suspect in custody and is under interrogation. He told police he was sent by satan to commit the murder.
The suspect is a Kenyan aged 56. Witnesses said he walked to the scene posing as a member of the street families and carrying a sack. He had stuffed the spear in the sack.
He then hid behind a flower bed and removed it before spearing the slain officer in the chest, witnesses said. By then, the officer and two others were busy checking and clearing a car that was getting into the State House.
The assailant was arrested on the spot. The arresting officers were hesitant in shooting the assailant, they said, adding they wanted to know why he did it.
Senior police officers led by Kilimani police boss Patricia Yegon, her DCI counterpart Hussein Mahat visited the scene and the hospital where the body lay. They said the suspect is under probe for more on the motive.
Other officials from State House were also present at the hospital. The incident came hours after another GSU officer was strangled and drowned near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after an altercation with a man.
The assailant was arrested following the Sunday, October 12, 2025 incident.
The slain officer was manning the JKIA fence when the incident happened. The State House and state lodges are guarded by the officers drawn from GSU’s G-Company.
The team also guards the president's homes and other premises. The president also has the Presidential Escort Unit, which is a fully-fledged team, that can handle the movement of the President and his family anytime.
They, however, usually get the help of the local police whenever the President visits.
Together with his family, the President has about 200 security guards from the GSU.
As part of security measures, they don’t allow armed police officers, especially those with rifles, at the events, apart from their members.
