Judge flags ‘overwhelming’ evidence in State House guard murder trial, floats plea deal
Key points
- Justice Diana Kavedza (Kibera High Court) suggested defence discuss a possible plea with accused Kithuka Musyimi.
- She said prosecution evidence appears “overwhelming”; a guilty plea might let ODPP consider manslaughter instead of murder.
- Incident date cited: 13 October 2025 near a State House entrance; deceased officer: Ramadhan Khamisi Matanka.
- Prosecution: accused approached officers with a bow and arrow; four witnesses heard so far; trial continues.
At Kibera High Court, Justice Diana Kavedza did not decide guilt — she did tell the defence that the State’s case against Kithuka Musyimi, accused of killing State House presidential guard Ramadhan Khamisi Matanka, looks heavy enough that a plea conversation with ODPP might be rational, Eastleigh Voice reported.
A guilty plea, she noted, could open talks about reducing murder to manslaughter and would save judicial time. She stressed the choice remains the accused’s alone. That is judicial case-management language, not a conviction on the microphone.
What the prosecution put on the record
The State says the attack unfolded on 13 October 2025 near a State House entrance. Witnesses described Musyimi approaching two officers with a bow and arrow. Armed police held fire, prosecutors said, because the suspect used passing vehicles as cover and a shootout would have risked other officers and civilians. Matanka allegedly pleaded for help while bleeding out before he died. Four witnesses testified in the sitting covered by the report; more are expected.
Whether those facts survive cross-examination is the trial’s job. The judge’s “overwhelming” remark will hang over every remaining hearing day.
Process watch-points
If ODPP ever offers manslaughter terms, publish the rationale; if the defence rejects any deal, the full murder trial must stay public. Crime desk: Crime.
Families of fallen officers need victim-impact space whether the file ends in plea or full verdict. Security agencies should also answer how a bow-and-arrow approach reached a State House perimeter without earlier interdiction — a question adjacent to, but separate from, the murder charge.
The 13 October 2025 date, the bow-and-arrow allegation and the four witnesses already heard are concrete process markers. If a manslaughter plea ever replaces murder, ODPP should say what facts justified the reduction so the public does not read silence as elite bargain at the State House perimeter.
Based on Eastleigh Voice reporting of proceedings before Justice Kavedza. Court records control charges, evidence and any plea outcome.
