A General Service Unit (GSU) officer was killed in a brazen spear attack outside State House on Monday, an incident that has sent shockwaves through the nation’s security apparatus and raised urgent questions about the safety of Kenya’s most protected installations.
The officer, attached to the elite G Company responsible for guarding State House and the President’s residences, was on duty at Gate D when a 56-year-old man, disguised as a street dweller, launched a sudden and fatal assault.
A Deceptive Ambush
According to witness accounts and police reports, the assailant arrived at the scene carrying a sack that concealed a spear. He allegedly hid behind a flower bed, biding his time as the officer and two colleagues conducted a routine security inspection of a vehicle approaching the gate.
In a moment of terrifying violence, the man emerged from his hiding place and lunged at the officer, striking him in the left side of the chest with the spear. The attack was so swift and unprovoked that there was no time for the officer or his team to react.
The wounded officer was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Authorities confirmed he had succumbed to excessive blood loss from the catastrophic injury.
Attacker Claims He Was “Sent by Satan”
The suspect was arrested at the scene and is currently in police custody. During initial interrogation, the 56-year-old Kenyan reportedly claimed he was “sent by satan” to carry out the killing. While this statement provides a chilling glimpse into the attacker’s alleged mindset, police say the precise motive for the assault remains unclear and is under active investigation.
Authorities are working to determine if the attacker had any prior connection to the slain officer or if the act was driven by a broader, more complex agenda.
Security Protocols Under Scrutiny
The killing has triggered a heightened security alert within State House, especially as President William Ruto was present at the time and preparing to depart for Konza City. The incident casts a stark light on the security protocols at Gate D, which is known to be open to the public for controlled access, creating a vulnerable point where determined individuals can get dangerously close.
This fatal breach comes just hours after a separate, equally disturbing incident near the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), where another GSU officer was reportedly strangled and drowned after an altercation on Sunday, October 12. The back-to-back killings of elite officers within 24 hours have sparked deep concern within security circles.
GSU Officer Speared to Death at Statehouse
State House and state lodges are primarily secured by officers from the GSU’s G Company, supported by the specialized Presidential Escort Unit. Combined, these units deploy approximately 200 highly trained officers to protect the President and his family. The fact that an officer could be killed in such a primitive yet effective manner at the very gates of power is a sobering reminder of the unpredictable nature of security threats.
As investigations continue, the nation is left mourning a officer who fell in the line of duty, and security agencies are forced to confront difficult questions about how to defend against unconventional attacks at the heart of the nation’s government.
