Tension High as IPOA Reacts to Mysterious Attack on Officer at State House Gate

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has condemned the alarming rise in violent attacks targeting police officers across the country.

In a statement on Monday, October 13, IPOA expressed deep concern over recent incidents where officers were assaulted, property destroyed, and lives lost — the most shocking being the killing of a police constable outside State House, Nairobi.

IPOA chairperson Issack Hassan pointed out that attacks at State House, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), and Kiganjo Police Station in Kiambu County mark a worrying trend that threatens the safety of officers and the stability of law enforcement operations.

At Kiganjo Police Station, a section of the facility was recently torched, destroying crucial infrastructure and disrupting police work in the area.

“Assaulting police officers not only reflects growing lawlessness but also undermines the spirit of ongoing police reforms. Such actions could erode years of progress toward accountability and professionalism in policing,” Hassan warned.

He urged Kenyans to seek justice through legal channels whenever they feel wronged by police officers instead of resorting to violence.

The authority extended condolences to the families of officers who lost their lives in recent attacks and called for swift action to bring perpetrators to justice.

In the latest incident, a police officer identified as Constable Ramadhan Khamisi Matanka was fatally speared outside State House on Monday morning.

According to police reports, the suspect — identified as Kinyuka Kinyumi, 56 — approached the entrance along Dennis Pritt Road carrying a sack and posing as a street dweller. 

He allegedly hid behind a flower bed before launching a sudden attack, striking the officer in the chest with a spear.

The officer was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital but sadly succumbed to his injuries while receiving emergency treatment.

The suspect was subdued and arrested at the scene. He reportedly told police that he had been “sent by Satan” to commit the act, according to witnesses and officers aware of the investigation.

The shocking incident has heightened fears among security agencies and renewed calls for calm and cooperation between police and the public.