State House Nairobi is arguably the most guarded building in Kenya under 24-hour protection of the GSU G Company.
Despite the level of security manning the country's centre of power, a few daring individuals have managed to sneak in but not without consequences.
On December 22, 2002, Onyango Mono, who claimed to be a pastor entered the compound in the evening.
Undetected, he managed to find his way around the expansive compound to get to the president's office.
In the morning, State House staff found him sleeping on the carpet outside the office and alerted the security.
He was later found out to be mentally unstable and during interrogation, he claimed that he had been sent by God with a message to President Daniel Moi to tell him to hand over power immediately.
On October 27, 2015, security officials arrested Walter Juma inside State House Grounds.
He was taken to Kilimani Police Station where the Anti Terrorism Police Unit interrogated him.
When he was charged in court, he admitted that he had arrived at 10pm and that he had done so numerous times because he was friends with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The following year on March 6, William Njuguna also sneaked into the house on the hill.
When he was arrested, he defended himself by explaining that he was only curious to see how State House looked like.
“I wanted to see State House with my own eyes, how it looks like since I only see it in newspapers and TV. I was curious," he told the court.
He was set free a month later but before he could enjoy freedom, he was murdered at Uhuru Park two days after his release.
On 25, March 2017, yet another intruder gained access to State House but was shot by one the president's marksmen.
That day, President Kenyatta was attending a golf tournament at Muthaiga Golf Club.
The unidentified middle-aged man was reported to have illegally accessed the highly protected grounds shortly before 5pm and was at a parking area not far from the main building.
With no identity, he will only be remembered as the first person to be shot dead at State House.
How the above-listed persons managed to beat security clearance is a mystery.
For one to gain access, there must be an invitation from officials and details of the individuals posted with the GSU officers manning the gate for easy identification.
Not even Cabinet Secretaries and members of the President’s extended family are spared the rigorous checks at the gates.
Gate A is used by the President, Deputy President and other VIPs while Gate D is used by State House staff, the public and media when invited to State House.
