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The murder trial of a General Service Unit officer killed at a State House gate has stalled, spotlighting systemic delays and witness security fears that plague Kenya's justice system and threaten accountability in sensitive cases.
The Kenyan public is still awaiting justice in the murder case of Police Constable Ramadhan Khamisi Matanka, a General Service Unit (GSU) officer who was killed while on duty at State House, Nairobi, on Monday, October 13, 2025. The suspect, Kithuka Kimunyi Musyimi, was swiftly arrested at the scene but the subsequent legal proceedings have hit a significant standstill, raising urgent questions about the efficiency and integrity of the judicial process in high-security matters. The case, which began with a shocking breach of presidential security, is now a stark example of the broader challenges crippling Kenya's courts.
On the morning of October 13, 2025, PC Matanka was attacked while manning Gate D on Dennis Pritt Road, an entrance reserved for presidential staff and designated visitors. Initial police reports stated that the assailant, who was posing as a street dweller, attacked the officer with a bow and arrow concealed in a sack. PC Matanka sustained a fatal wound to the chest and was pronounced dead after being rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital. However, subsequent investigations and reviews of CCTV footage by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) suggested a more complex scenario. The footage reportedly showed the suspect, Mr. Musyimi, and PC Matanka engaged in a conversation for approximately 17 minutes inside the security booth before the attack, indicating a possible prior acquaintance. This revelation shifted the investigation's focus towards understanding the relationship between the two men and the motive behind the killing.
Despite the prompt arrest and arraignment of Mr. Musyimi at the Kibera Law Courts, where detectives were initially granted 14 days to conclude their investigation, the trial has failed to progress meaningfully. Several factors, common within the Kenyan justice system, appear to be contributing to the delay:
The stalling of this case has significant implications beyond the courtroom. The murder of an officer within the precincts of State House is a matter of grave national security. The failure to secure a swift and transparent trial sends a worrying message about the state's ability to protect its own security personnel and prosecute crimes that occur at the highest seat of power. It feeds a public perception of impunity and undermines confidence in the criminal justice system. The ODPP, under Director Renson Ingonga, has recently launched initiatives aimed at reducing case backlogs through strategies like plea bargaining and public sensitization, but the impact of these reforms is yet to be fully realized. For the family of PC Matanka and a concerned Kenyan public, the delay represents a denial of justice and accountability. The resolution of this case is a critical test for the nation's judicial and security apparatus, with its outcome likely to influence public trust and the handling of sensitive criminal cases for years to come.