The demolition of Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s business premises has triggered serious questions about the use of state power, due process, and political pressure, with the governor openly claiming he is being targeted unfairly.
His properties along Douglas Wakiihuri Road near Nyayo Stadium were brought down at night, despite his insistence that the land was legally leased and that court orders existed to stop the exercise.
After visiting the demolished site on Wednesday, January 14, Wamatangi stated that he followed all legal procedures before developing the property. He said the land was leased from Kenya Railways and that he has been paying monthly as required. According to him, the demolition had nothing to do with the law and everything to do with politics.
“I went to Kenya Railways and took a lease, and I pay for it every month, but now what has happened is just politics. I am asking myself when this political persecution against me will end. I have employed so many youths here over all these years,” said Wamatangi.
The governor further claimed that no formal notice was ever served to him before the demolition was carried out. He challenged anyone involved to provide proof of such a notice, maintaining that the destruction of his businesses was done without following the law. He explained that after receiving threats that his premises were about to be demolished, his legal team moved to court and obtained orders stopping any such action. Despite this, the demolition still went on.
“There was no notice at all. If anyone has they should come forward to say they have one. We even have court orders that were issued after he heard threats that they wanted to demolish the property,” he stated.
Wamatangi described the demolition as an act meant to intimidate him and divert his attention from his work as governor. He argued that the move was designed to weaken him politically rather than address any genuine legal concern. According to him, the timing and manner of the demolition point to an attempt to distract him from his development agenda in Kiambu County.
He made it clear that he does not intend to be dragged into political fights at this stage and will instead focus on delivering services to the people of Kiambu.
“This is an act of cowardice because I am not focusing on politics; this is intended to silence me and remove me from the development agenda, but I have made a decision that I am going to work for the people of Kiambu completely without politicking until 2027. But that does not mean I will not run for governor, I will be the governor of Kiambu in 2027 god willing,” added Wamatangi.
The demolition itself took place on the night of Tuesday, January 13, when excavators and bulldozers moved in under heavy police presence.
Several officers were deployed to guard the operation as contractors tore down the structures. Among the properties destroyed were a car wash and a restaurant, as well as vehicles that were at the premises at the time.
Images from the scene showed extensive damage, with buildings flattened and cars badly wrecked. The destruction not only wiped out investments worth millions of shillings but also affected workers who depended on the businesses for their livelihoods.
This is not the first time Wamatangi has lost property through demolition. In 2019, his car bazaar and car wash were also brought down after authorities claimed the land had been illegally acquired. The repeat of such an incident has added weight to his claims of being targeted.