'We thought it was firewood': Officer tells court in murder of State House guard case
Crime and Justice
By
Nancy Gitonga
| Jul 27, 2026
A State House police officer on Monday gave a chilling account of the moment a man armed with a bow and arrows allegedly launched a deadly attack on security officers guarding State House, telling the High Court that the suspect appeared determined to target officers.
Testifying before the Kibera High Court, Kelvin Nyabuto, a presidential guard attached to State House, said he was on duty on the morning of October 13, 2025, when he noticed a man approaching Gate D carrying what initially appeared to be a piece of wood.
"As I was executing my duties, I saw a man at a distance carrying what appeared to be a piece of wood. I told my colleague to keep an eye on the man," Nyabuto testified.
He told the court that moments later he realised the man was carrying a bow and had already trained an arrow at one of the officers.
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"As my colleague was inspecting another vehicle, I saw the man carrying the bow trying to focus an arrow in his direction, but he managed to evade it.," he said.
Nyabuto said he immediately repositioned himself and cocked his rifle in preparation to confront the attacker.
"I then changed direction and moved towards where my colleague had been standing. I had to cock my rifle so that I could engage the man carrying the bow," he testified.
According to the officer, the attacker released another arrow after the first missed its target.
"The first shot was aimed at the first officer and missed. When it missed, he quickly released another, but the second officer stumbled and then shot the officer," Nyabuto told the court.
He said the suspect appeared focused on attacking security personnel rather than members of the public.
"To my view, he was targeting the officers. He was shooting aimlessly. They were not able to control him immediately," he said.
Nyabuto told the court he had never seen the accused at State House or in its environs before the incident and said, from what he witnessed, he believed the attacker had a clear objective.
Nyabuto described the suspect as wearing black trousers, a grey hooded sweatshirt and a blue T-shirt when he approached State House Gate D.
"He was wearing black trousers, a grey hood and a blue T-shirt. I had never seen him at State House or in its environs before. From what I saw, I could tell his intention was to attack the officers," the officer testified.
The witness told the court the injured officer was rushed to hospital by fellow officers in a passing vehicle but later succumbed to his injuries.
The prosecution also called Beatrice Awour, a State House gardener, who said she witnessed the attack from within the compound.
"I saw a man coming with a bow and arrow," she testified.
Awour told the court that two officers were manning Gate D when the suspect struck.
"He shot him from behind with an arrow at the back of his chest," she said.
She identified the accused, Kithuka Kimunyi Musyimi, in the dock as the man she saw during the incident.
"At Gate D two officers were manning the gate. He was aiming at the officers, not civilians," Awour testified.
She further recalled seeing the injured officer pull out the arrow before collapsing.
"He removed the arrow after feeling pain and fell. I have never seen the man again at State House or near its environment," she said.
The testimonies came as the murder trial against Musyimi continued before the High Court.
Earlier in the proceedings, the trial judge advised defence counsel to consult the accused on whether he would be willing to change his plea and opt for the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Musyimi is charged with the murder of GSU Constable Ramadhan Khamisi Matanka, who died after being struck by an arrow during the October 13, 2025 attack at State House Gate D along Dennis Pritt Road.
The hearing continues.