Why it's a tall order to access the State House

State House, the official residence and office of the president, stands as a symbol of authority and access is closely guarded.

Entering the area is not merely a physical journey but a complex endeavour entwined with layers of security and protocol.

Being the epicentre of national governance, the State House has been classified as a protected area under the Protected Areas Act.

This means that extra precautions are taken to prevent unauthorized entry while also maintaining public safety and order.

From stringent security checks, navigating the path to entering the area demands meticulous preparation and adherence to established norms.

But, even if you manage to gain access through illegal means which again is impracticable, you are likely to be met with lethal force.

In 2019, a 25-year-old university student was shot by officers manning the Nairobi State House after he tried to access it through the fence.

Brian Kibet Bera, then a student at JKUAT and armed with a knife was shot as he tried to scale the wall through Gate B.

"He drew out a knife which prompted officers to fire at him where he sustained a gunshot wound on the left shoulder plate," a police report read.

Apart from the elite General Service Unit (GSU) who provide round-the-clock security in the area, there also exist a special squad of snipers around the main building, both in civilian and uniform.

All guests including journalists invited to the area undergo rigorous checks both at the main gate and inside before being cleared.

Following the outbreak of violence Tuesday which saw protesters breached the parliament security and caused destruction, President William Ruto termed the event treasonous vowing to fully respond.

The Defence Council chaired by Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale sanctioned the deployment of military officers to guard these areas.

State House Nairobi was built in 1907 and was known as Government House before independence. 

It was designed by British architect Herbert Baker and served as the official residence of the Governor of British East Africa when Kenya was a British colony.

After independence, it became the residence of the head of state, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.

Apart from Nairobi, there are other State Houses in Mombasa and Nakuru including state lodges in Eldoret, Sagana, Kisumu, Kakamega, Kitale, Rumuruti, Cheran'gany and Kisii.

Protected Areas

Entry into these protected areas cannot be allowed without the permission of the prescribed authority or such other person as may be specified in the order.

Permission to enter the protected area

Where, in pursuance of section 3, any person is granted permission to be in a protected area, that person shall, while acting under such permission, comply with such directions for regulating his conduct as may be given by the prescribed authority or person granting the permission, or by the police officer in charge of the district.

A person entering a protected area may be searched

According to the Act, any police officer or any person authorized on that behalf by the prescribed authority may search any person, conveyance, vehicle, vessel or container found in or found entering or leaving, or seeking to enter or leave, or reasonably suspected of having recently left a protected area, and may stop and detain any such person, conveyance, vehicle, vessel or container to search him or it.

Any person detained to be searched shall be deemed to be in lawful custody.

Removal of an unauthorized person

If any person is in a protected area in contravention of this Act, or, being lawfully in a protected area, fails to comply with any direction given under this Act, then, without prejudice to any proceedings which may be taken against him, he may be removed from the area by any police officer or any person authorized in that behalf by the prescribed authority.