Governor Wamatangi claims political persecution in property demolition

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi speaks to the media in Nairobi on January 14, 2026. /SCREENGRAB

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has claimed political persecution following the overnight demolition of his property next to Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi County.

Wamatangi, who was addressing the public at the site on Wednesday, claimed his political detractors were using state apparatus to silence him, insisting he was legitimately occupying the disputed property.

“This is an act of cowardice.  What happened here is all about politics. I am asking myself; when will all this political persecution end for me as Kiambu Governor? This suffering, which is politically motivated, will end when?”

He added, “They want to distract me from my development agenda, which includes building hospitals, markets, schools, roads etc.”

He said he had occupied the parcel of land for over 30 years, having leased it from the Kenya Railways Corporation, and has been paying monthly rent charges without fail.

“I started selling mandazi here in 1994 before I leased this land to wash cars. We later expanded to selling cars and other businesses here, which include transport business. I have grown here from my youthful years having gotten a 65-year valid lease.”

Wamatangi’s lawyers have vowed to go to court and sue the state seeking damages, with the Kiambu county boss saying some other traders incurred huge losses.

He said the incident is part of both political and legal challenges he is fighting citing ongoing corruption investigations that have seen bank accounts of his associates frozen.

“All this will come to an end one day. They have been pursuing me, my family, and associates whose accounts are frozen over claims of corruption, but we will overcome it soon,” he said.

He claimed the incident is linked to another one at his private home where some unknown people shot at his compound while explaining that he kept off the site last night during the operation as he could have been a target of live ammunitions whose spent cartridges he was holding.

“Last night I resisted the attempt to come here since I do not know if these ammunitions were meant for me. I leave them to God.”

Wamatangi has declared that he will camp at the site and fast for over 40 years to ensure he gets justice.

“I want to know that my crimes are. I will camp here fasting for 40 days until I get justice. They must tell me what and where I wronged them.”

The county boss was accompanied by several church leaders who came in solidarity to support and pray for him.

According to witnesses, police officers arrived at the area around 12 am and used teargas canisters and live rounds to disperse crowds and those on duty before demolitions commenced.

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.