The National Police Service (NPS) has released chilling new details regarding the shocking Monday morning attack near State House, Nairobi, that left a General Service Unit (GSU) officer dead. The attack — carried out by a man armed with a bow and arrows — has not only shaken the nation but also drawn attention to a disturbing pattern of violence targeting Kenya’s elite police unit within a span of less than 24 hours.
A Deadly Morning Outside State House
According to the NPS, the incident occurred at around 8:10 a.m. on Monday, October 13, at State House Gate D, a high-security checkpoint manned by GSU personnel.
A 56-year-old man, armed with a traditional bow and arrows, reportedly advanced toward the officers on duty, ignoring repeated warnings to surrender. He then fired an arrow that struck Police Constable Ramadhan Mattanka in the left ribs, inflicting fatal injuries.
“The suspect was challenged to surrender but instead shot an arrow at the officer,” said a police statement. “Officers swiftly subdued and arrested him.”
Constable Mattanka was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital, but despite urgent medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
A Second GSU Officer Killed Hours Earlier
The Monday morning attack comes barely 12 hours after another GSU officer was killed under eerily similar circumstances near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
On Sunday night, the body of Constable Nahashon Katumo, who was part of a security team manning the JKIA perimeter fence, was found lifeless in a pool of stagnant water near the Kwa Mwenje Resort, adjacent to the airport’s security fence.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Constable Katumo had been attacked and fatally injured by an unknown assailant during his night patrol. Detectives recovered his rifle at the scene, indicating there may have been a violent struggle before his death.
The back-to-back killings of GSU officers stationed at two of Kenya’s most sensitive installations — State House and JKIA — have raised serious national security concerns.
Investigators Probe Possible Link
While police have not officially linked the two incidents, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) are probing whether the attacks were coordinated or coincidental.
“It’s too early to conclude, but the timing and targets are unsettling,” a senior security official told this publication. “Both victims were GSU officers deployed at critical installations. We are looking at every possibility — from lone attackers to organized attempts meant to test our security systems.”
The State House Attacker: Motive Still Unclear
The identity and motive of the 56-year-old archer remain unclear. Early findings suggest he may have been mentally unstable or acting out of personal grievance, though security sources caution against ruling out other motives, including extremist influence or protest symbolism.
“The use of a bow and arrows is unusual and possibly symbolic,” said one officer familiar with the case. “We’re examining his background, medical records, and social associations.”
The suspect remains in custody as police conduct background checks and forensic examinations on his homemade weapons.
Security Concerns Heightened
The twin killings have reignited national debate on the security of Kenya’s protected facilities and the welfare of the officers guarding them. Analysts note that while the attacks may appear isolated, they expose potential vulnerabilities in surveillance, perimeter security, and early threat detection systems.
“These incidents, happening so close together, point to a worrying security lapse,” said a Nairobi-based counterterrorism expert. “GSU officers are trained for high-risk defense, yet they’ve become targets themselves. That should alarm everyone.”
This follows a March 2025 incident in which 12 individuals attempted to breach State House security before being intercepted by the Recce Squad. Though they were later released, the event highlighted growing public desperation and unpredictability around the country’s most secure zones.
Police Statement and Condolences
In its official statement, the National Police Service condemned the attacks and praised officers who acted swiftly to prevent further harm.
“The National Police Service condemns these heinous acts and commends the officers for their courage and quick response. We stand in solidarity with the families of our fallen officers who died in the line of duty,” the statement read.
Constable Mattanka’s and Katumo’s deaths have drawn an outpouring of sympathy from colleagues and the public alike. Their bodies were taken to Kenyatta National Hospital Mortuary and City Mortuary respectively, pending post-mortem examinations.
A Nation on Edge
The back-to-back killings of GSU officers in Nairobi — one outside State House, another at the JKIA perimeter — have cast a somber mood over the country’s security agencies. Investigators are under immense pressure to uncover whether Kenya’s elite police units are facing a new kind of threat.
As the investigations unfold, one thing is clear: the events of Sunday night and Monday morning have shattered the sense of security around two of the nation’s most fortified installations — and raised troubling questions about who, or what, may be testing the resolve of Kenya’s security machinery.
Editor’s Note:
The deaths of Constable Ramadhan Mattanka and Constable Nahashon Katumo mark one of the darkest 24-hour periods for the General Service Unit in recent memory — a tragic reminder of the hidden dangers faced daily by those entrusted to guard the nation’s most sensitive sites.
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