The overnight demolition of business premises linked to Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi near Nyayo National Stadium has ignited fresh controversy, with the governor accusing state agencies of carrying out a politically motivated operation in defiance of a court order and without prior notice.
Bulldozers escorted by heavily armed police moved into the property late Tuesday night, flattening structures and damaging vehicles and equipment by morning. The operation, conducted under tight security, left several commercial buildings in ruins and disrupted businesses that had operated on the site for decades.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Wamatangi described the demolition as the latest episode in what he called three years of political persecution. “For the past three years, I have been politically terrorized — both at work and at home — by individuals exploiting state powers,” he said, adding that the action was meant to intimidate him and interfere with his work as governor.
The governor said the land was legally leased and that he had operated businesses on the property since 1994, paying rent in line with the lease agreement. He maintained that there was a valid court order barring any eviction and that no written notice was issued before the demolition, raising questions about whether due process was followed.
“There was no notice, and we had a court order,” Wamatangi said, calling the operation a “cowardly act.” He said the destruction of the premises had caused losses running into millions of shillings and left workers without livelihoods.
Witnesses said police sealed off roads around the area as excavators moved in, preventing access to the premises. The scale of the security deployment drew criticism from civil society voices, who questioned the use of armed officers in what appears to be a civil land dispute.
Authorities have yet to publicly explain the legal basis for the demolition. In previous disputes involving land near Nyayo Stadium, state agencies have argued that some parcels fall on public land or protected reserves, claims that have often been contested by leaseholders and investors.
Legal experts say Kenyan law requires clear notice and adherence to court orders before evictions or demolitions can proceed. If a court order was indeed in force, they say, the demolition could raise serious legal and constitutional questions, including potential contempt of court.
The incident comes amid broader political tensions, with elected leaders increasingly accusing state agencies of selective enforcement and abuse of administrative power. Supporters of Wamatangi have echoed his claims online, framing the demolition as an attempt to silence or weaken him politically.
Despite the destruction, Wamatangi struck a defiant tone, saying the action would not change his resolve. “The doers of this act intend to obstruct my work as governor, but it will not change my resolve,” he said, adding that he was leaving the matter “to God.”
