Inside 17 Minutes: CCTV Footage Reveals Murdered State House Guard Was Well Known to The Killer

A chilling 17-minute conversation captured on CCTV has exposed a troubling relationship between a slain General Service Unit officer and his alleged killer, raising serious questions about security protocols at one of Kenya’s most protected installations.

Police Constable Ramadhan Hamisi Matanka, 56, was fatally shot with an arrow on Monday morning at State House Gate D by Kithuka Kimunyi, a man investigators now believe was well acquainted with the fallen officer.

Security camera footage reviewed by investigators shows Kimunyi, dressed in grey trousers and a Maasai shuka, strolling into the screening area at 7.58am carrying a gunny bag. What followed was an extensive conversation between the two men that lasted exactly 17 minutes, a detail that has sent shockwaves through the investigative team.

The ease with which Kimunyi accessed the highly restricted gate, an entrance reserved exclusively for the president’s designated staff and invited guests, has emerged as a key factor in the murder probe. Detectives are now pursuing two primary theories: that the men were close associates who fell out during their conversation, or that a deal between them went sour.

Multiple police sources with access to the CCTV footage told The Star that preliminary scrutiny of Matanka’s mobile phone indicates the two men had met several times before at different State House entrances. The pattern suggests their meetings typically occurred at whichever gate Matanka was assigned to guard.

“The officer did not appear apprehensive even as the suspect approached him,” a police officer familiar with the investigation revealed. “This was not the behaviour of someone encountering a stranger at a secure facility.”

Kinyuka Kimunyi, a man suspected of killing a GSU officer, is help on October 13, 2025 at Kilimani Police Station.

At precisely 8.10am, while two of Matanka’s colleagues were occupied searching a vehicle, Kimunyi reached into his sack and withdrew a bow and arrow. With what investigators describe as force and precision, he struck Matanka on the left side of his chest. Whether the timing was calculated or opportunistic remains under investigation.

The CCTV footage shows Matanka collapsing to the ground, writhing in pain, as his colleagues rushed to his aid. He was immediately transported to Kenyatta National Hospital but succumbed to his injuries while being treated in the emergency bay.

The tragic incident robbed Hassan Dabie Mattiaka of his only child and left GSU’s Company G, deployed to guard State House entrances just three months ago, mourning one of their own.

Kimunyi attempted to flee after the attack but was apprehended by another GSU officer. By Monday evening, he had been taken to an undisclosed facility for mental assessment.

However, the official version of events has sparked controversy. Kilimani Divisional Criminal Investigation Officer Mahat Hassan stated that Kimunyi was loitering around State House and that Matanka approached him out of curiosity. This account aligns with the official incident report filed by GSU officer Daniel Kemboi but contradicts what two investigators separately told The Star about the suspect deliberately targeting his victim.

The incident report describes an “unknown assailant” who “advanced to officers manning the entrance to a protected government facility” and attacked indiscriminately. Yet the CCTV evidence paints a starkly different picture of two men engaged in what appeared to be familiar conversation before violence erupted.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja condemned the attack and commended officers who subdued Kimunyi. His statement indicated that the suspect “attacked indiscriminately and refused to surrender upon request,” though this characterisation sits uncomfortably alongside the footage showing the prolonged interaction between the two men.

Detectives from the DCI’s Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau have been called in to assist with the investigation. They spent Monday reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing officers who were on duty at the time.

Matanka’s family postponed his burial at the request of police, who needed time to conduct a post-mortem examination. The family had initially hoped to bury him before sunset in accordance with Islamic practices.

As the investigation deepens, uncomfortable questions are being asked about how Kimunyi gained such easy access to a gate that should be impenetrable to outsiders, and what history existed between him and the officer who paid the ultimate price for their acquaintance.

The murder has highlighted potential security vulnerabilities at State House and added to a troubling pattern of recent attacks on police officers across the country, prompting calls for a comprehensive review of security protocols at sensitive government installations.