Kimani Wamatangi's long fight with the national government, MPs

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi inspects the damage after bulldozers brought down his car yard near Nyayo stadium, January 14, 2026. /DOUGLAS OKIDDY

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has had a history of clashes with the national government from the time he came into office.

The Governor and MPs from the region allied to President William Ruto have had several public spats, some even in the presence of the President.

He has, on several, occasions fought back and even sued Ruto’s administration over clash on divisions between the national and county government.  

The Kiambu Governor survived an impeachment scare thanks to the 2024 Gen Z uprising after Kiambu MCAs vowed to remove him from office.

On May 8, 2024, President Ruto met a group of leaders from Kiambu county at State House, Nairobi with the governor conspicuously absent.

This was, according to insiders, a sign that Wamatangi was becoming increasingly isolated.

Prior to that, on March 19, 2024, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wah accused the Kiambu county boss of sabotaging President Ruto's government and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

“The fight is over the sabotage of President William Ruto and the government of UDA. When we were campaigning, we promised to build markets. When Ruto builds markets, you tell people that you are the one building the market. You claim Ruto has done nothing for the people of Kiambu," the majority leader said.

Wamatangi at one point, sued the national government over a dispute regarding the control and development of four key markets: Ngoliba, Karuri, Gakoe and Maguguni.

In that case, the county government listed the Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, the Attorney General, and the Inspector General of Police as respondents, arguing that market development is an exclusive county government function under the Constitution's Fourth Schedule.

On March 20, 2025, supporters of Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a and those allied to Wamatangi clashed during the launch of the Sh55 million Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) by the MP in Ngoliba area of Thika East subcounty.

Those allied to the governor claimed the MP has no right to launch markets, terming it a county government function.

The supporters attempted to block the MP from commissioning the project, forcing the intervention of police officers led by Thika East Subcounty Police Commander, Andrew Nzola, who restored order.

Despite the hostility, the MP managed to officially launch the project and vowed to continue with her development agenda across the constituency.

The county moved to court on March 26, 2025, with Justice Jacqueline Mogeni issuing temporary conservatory orders on April 9, 2025, pending hearing and determination of the suit.

Kiambu claimed National Government took possession of the market and awarded a tender for its construction to a new contractor in contravention of the constitutional and statutory framework governing devolved functions.

The county also said the move was in blatant disregard of its exclusive authority over market development as enshrined in the Fourth Schedule of the constitution.

On October 14, 2025, the national government suffered a blow after the Environment and Land Court dimissed a preliminary objection filed by the Attorney General questioning the jurisdictions of the court to determine the dispute.  

“Thus, the issues raised in the petition cannot be decided without recourse to the constitution hence are constitutional questions. The doctrine of the constitution avoidance cannot thus be raised to frustrate the instant petition," Justice Mogeni declared.

"This ground of attack must therefore inevitably fail. Thus, this Court has jurisdiction to determine Petition.”

In December 2025, the Thika-based court again suspended the construction of the Sh5.2 billion affordable housing project and a Sh500 million modern market on two contested parcels of public land, in a second case filed by the county residents.

James Kariuki, one of the 11 petitioners, argued that the planned developments violate constitutional and statutory provisions on environmental conservation, public participation and urban planning.

In 2024, Wamatangi blamed the wrangles between him and some MPs on an attempt by some lawmakers to seize public land in Thika surrendered by food processing company, Del Monte.

He said his refusal to allow usage of the land by the state got him attacked and started receiving threats including coercions that he would be dethroned from office.

“Del Monte had ceded 100-acre land whose title was not handed over to the county. When I became the governor, the county was allocated 690 more acres. Cartels, including politicians, started crafting a way to grab the land but I refused," Wamatangi said in Gatundu North constituency on May 23, 2024.

"I told them to write letters indicating the development projects they intend to undertake on the public land, that is when they started fighting me." 

On December 14, 2025, a public meeting in Gatundu North called to ostensibly humiliate Wamatangi in the presence of President Ruto backfired after the governor received an applause even after being referred to as ‘outgoing governor’.

An area MP referred to Wamatangi's rival as the incoming governor while describing Governor as outgoing.

"I am the current governor and the one to be. Don't be in doubt in your mind. If you have a doubt, you can see who the governor is (referencing the cheers)," Wamatangi said when he stood to speak.

Ruto used the forum to call for unity among Kiambu leaders following a public clash between Wamatangi and MP Alice Ng'ang'a over the county's 2027 gubernatorial race.

Speaking in Gatundu North, Kiambu county, on Sunday, December 14 after the exchange, the President urged the leaders to focus on development and service delivery, warning against premature politics and campaigns.

"I am ready to work with all leaders to ensure that everything we promised the people is delivered,” Ruto stated.