Wamatangi condemns demolition of property, calls it an act of cowardice

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has described the demolition of his property as an “act of cowardice,” alleging that it was intended to intimidate and silence him.

Speaking on Wednesday, Wamatangi claimed that some individuals were using government offices to interfere with his work and disrupt his service to residents.

“Stop using government offices to ruin me. Stop using state offices to destroy my property and intimidate me. This is an act of cowardice,” he said.

The Governor reaffirmed his commitment to development work, stressing that he is nonpolitical. He insisted that he has deliberately kept off political confrontation to focus on service delivery.

“I am non-political and a development person. This is intended to silence me and intimidate me, and to remove me from my development agenda so I can become just like everyone else,” he said.

Wamatangi reiterated that he will continue working for residents until March 2027 before engaging in active campaigns.

“I have made a decision that I'm going to work for the people of Kiambu without a single word of politics until March 2027. But that does not mean I will not run for Governor,” he said.

He expressed confidence that Kiambu voters would support his bid.

“I will be the Governor of Kiambu, God willing, because the people of Kiambu have decided that, because of the work we are doing, they will give us this seat back,” he said.

“Tutahakikisha kazi ndio itaongea. Mikono hamtatukata.”

He urged political aspirants to conduct their campaigns independently without resorting to state machinery to affect his property or disrupt his work.

The governor claimed that his home had previously been raided on a Sunday and warned that the repeated attacks posed a serious threat to his safety.

“Yesterday I said that since they are destroying, I would not come because you never know who the bullets are targeted at,” he added.

Despite the escalating threats, Wamatangi maintained that he would not be deterred from fulfilling his mandate, insisting that his commitment to the people of Kiambu remains firm.

The Kiambu county boss also claimed that they were not served with a notice ahead of the demolition.

"...We have court orders that were signed when they first destroyed my property. Yesterday they came here with tear gas and live bullets," Wamatangi said.

Wamatangi's sentiments come after a dawn demolition operation saw excavators and bulldozers, accompanied by police officers, move into his business premises along Douglas Wakiihuri Road off Lang’ata Road and pull down semi-permanent structures, along with vehicles and other property at the site.

Several businesses and installations, including a car yard, a car wash facility, and a restaurant, were affected in the overnight exercise.

By morning, debris and damaged structures were still visible, and access along sections of Douglas Wakiihuri Road was restricted, disrupting movement.

The exercise was conducted near the railway line close to Nyayo Stadium, with police providing security as contractors carried out the demolitions.

Security was tight during the demolition, and police cordoned off the area as the exercise proceeded. Nairobi police boss George Seda said officers were present to support Kenya Railways in repossessing the land as part of an ongoing exercise.

He said no injuries were reported.

“The management says they notified the owner of the property to vacate, but there was resistance. We came in to help in the demolition,” said Seda.

The incident came days after Governor Wamatangi, through his company, moved to court seeking protection from what he termed as verbal threats of demolition.

In a petition filed before the Milimani Commercial Magistrates’ Court, he argued that the land in question belongs to Kenya Railways and has been leased to his company for more than 20 years, with rent allegedly paid and acknowledged during that period.

The petition claims that individuals said to be acting on behalf of Kenya Railways visited the premises in December and allegedly issued verbal notices to vacate, without serving a formal eviction notice.

The application argues that such action would contravene the constitutional right to property and legal eviction procedures under the Land Act.

"Throughout this period, the Applicant has duly paid rent which has been consistently received and/or acknowledged by the 1st Respondent (Kenya Railways Corporation), thereby affirming a valid and subsisting tenancy under which the Applicant has established and continuously operated a business on the premises with the knowledge and acquiescence of the 1st Respondent," the petition adds.