A seemingly radicalised fifth year Mechanical Engineering student at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat) was treated at a State House dispensary after he breached security at the protected grounds twenty six hours after posting a threatening message to the life of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Twenty five years old Brian Kibet Bera was stabilised at the facility to stop haemorrhage from a bullet wound he sustained on his left shoulder. Before being charged for trespass, police said the suspect will undergo mental assessment test to establish if he is mentally stable to stand trial.
The suspect was first booked at Kileleshwa Police Station before being transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where he is admitted under police guard. Bera was shot while scaling Gate B of State House, a protected security zone on Monday.
A day earlier, he exhibited radical ideologies through his social media posts admonishing leaders over alleged corruption allegations. He also targeted certain communities living in various parts of the country on land related issues. In his alarming Facebook posts, Bera said that he would attack State House. “Let my message reach everyone.
Tomorrow, I attack State House. God has sent me to execute judgment. Those calling me mad, why have you not come to arrest me and take me to Mathari? I have been here inside Jkuat.” The post read in part. The incident happened exactly at 4.05pm but it is not clear if President Kenyatta was at the complex then. He was armed with a knife.
“He was first treated at a dispensary inside State House. When he stabilised, the officer Commanding Kileleshwa Police Station took him.” A State House insider revealed. Yesterday, State House investigations are underway to establish the motive of the daring invasion.
“The student, who climbed over one of the state house gates, was shot and wounded on the left shoulder by officers manning the gate after he drew a knife when he was challenged to stop. Investigations are ongoing to establish the motive of the trespass and appropriate action will be taken upon conclusion.” State House spokesperson Kanze Dena Mararo said.
Preliminary police investigations show the General Service Unit (CGSU) officers manning the gate shot Bera after he defied orders to surrender. Upon interrogation at Kileleshwa Police Station where he was booked under occurrence book number 39/06/10/2019, a knife and a student identity card no. EN 291-0432/2013 from Jkuat University was recovered from the suspect.
“We take this opportunity to remind the public that State House is a designated protected area under the Protected Areas Act. For that reason no person is allowed access to the premise without the permission of the prescribed authority.” Dena added.
In 2015, a 15 year-old boy who was charged for trespassing a perimeter wall and entering State House was released on a two years conditional discharge. Chief Magistrate Daniel Ogembo has ordered the boy not to involve himself in any criminal activities for the next two years and urged the boy’s father to take proper parental responsibility.
The boy told the court that he breached security into State House to seek audience with the President to help him record his songs.