Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ Kenya is in shock following a dramatic security breakdown when a man stabbed a presidential guard to death with a knife near the State House, the official residence of President William Ruto. The Monday incident has raised serious questions about the integrity of security arrangements around one of the country’s best-fortified sites.
The suspect, Kithuka Kimunyi, allegedly went to the main entrance of the State House dressed like a beggar. The police reported that Kithuka Kimunyi attacked a security officer, Ramadhan Hamisi Matanka, with a bow and arrow without first giving any warning. The officer suffered a severe wound in his chest and was later discovered dead at the hospital. The officers who were manning the posts reacted fast and overpowered and disarmed the suspect before he could inflict any more injuries.
In a statement on Monday, the National Police Service spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga denounced the attack in a strong manner. “The National Police Service condemns this act of violence and applauds the officers for acting with speed, which shielded more lives from harm,” he stated, noting that an investigation was being conducted to try to establish the motive of the attack.
When he was brought before a court for a hearing on Tuesday, the investigating officer applied for a further 14 days for the suspect’s detention on the basis of needing a mental check-up. The suspect allegedly informed authorities that he was “sent by the devil,” and the court directed him to be led to a medical check-up. Judge Christine Njagi also ordered the accused to receive treatment for a leg injury he claimed he sustained during the scuffle. Police closely guarded Kimunyi as he limped into court.
The security lapse has been hotly debated in the public, with most Kenyans questioning how possible it is to access the presidential palace with weapons and without warning. Lawyer Ishmael Nyaribo decried the failure as, “When people can just loiter around such secure places like State House, that is a serious failure in our security systems and should be corrected immediately.”
Sources previously confirmed that President Ruto was in his office when the attack happened. The offices of the president and home are normally protected by a special police team; hence, this was one of the most troubling such high-level incursions in quite some time.
With the investigation ongoing, the government is still being pressured to have Kenya’s security measures audited and reinforced to make sure that there shall be no repeat of such a devastating and unprecedented attack.
