- Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has linked the midnight demolition of Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s property in Nairobi to political rivalry in Kiambu County
- The demolition left Wamatangi estimating huge losses after his business premises were destroyed under police protection, a situation that sparked clashes and anger among residents
- Gachagua claimed that the operation was approved by President William Ruto after pressure from Kiambu MPs, placing it as part of the wider Mt Kenya opposition.
Former vice president Rigathi Gachagua has linked the demolition of Governor Kimani Wamatangi’s property in Nairobi to political competition.
Source: Twitter
The Governor of Kiambu counted heavy losses after his business premises were raided on the night of Tuesday, January 13.
How Kimani Wamatangi’s property was demolished
The demolition took place at midnight under heavy police presence, leaving several workers without work and damaging several vehicles, including one owned by Wamatangi.
The operation took place along Douglas Wakiihuri Road, near Lang’ata Road, where bulldozers and excavators arrived shortly before midnight.
By morning, buildings were in ruins, equipment destroyed, and vehicles inside the compound were broken into, all guarded by riot police in full gear.
Video footage that went viral showed officers on patrol as excavators demolished buildings, armed with batons and tear gas to secure the area.
Superclean Shine Enterprises, a business that provides car washes, carpet cleaning, and mechanic services, was reduced to rubble.
The tension spread to the neighboring areas when traders and youths tried to protest, which led to clashes with the police.
Bonfires were lit on the side of the road as crowds expressed anger over the late-night demolition.
At dawn, the police continued to confront the residents firing into the air to restore order while the bulldozers continued their work.
Speaking on the issue, Gachagua claimed that the demolition was approved by Ruto.
Was Ruto involved in the demolition of Kimani Wamatangi’s property?
The DCP leader claimed that Ruto met Kiambu MPs during his recent visit to Nyeri, where they asked him to approve the demolition of the property in question.
He claimed that the issue shows Kiambu and the wider Mt Kenya area rebelling against Ruto and embracing his wing.
According to Gachagua, the MPs told Ruto that demolishing the property would force the Matangi to back down, maybe even oppose the government.
“They expressed great concern and frustration over the popularity of Governor Kimani Wamatangi and the effects of the meetings promoting the DCP Party led by the leader of the party, Rigathi Gachagua… They demanded that Governor Wamatangi must be reduced in power; they called for the immediate demolition of his commercial buildings on Aerodrome Road, Nairobi, followed by criminal charges by the EACC regarding allegations of fabricated economic crimes,” demanded Gachagua.
Despite the allegations, Wamatangi has not publicly opposed the government and has welcomed Ruto on all his working visits to Kiambu, as well as other social events they attended together.
Gachagua also claimed that the same MPs pressured Ruto to control the DCP in Mount Kenya by sending the police to prevent any meetings that the party may organize.
He added that they complained that thugs allegedly sponsored by the government failed to stop the DCP meetings due to the lack of adequate support from the police and opposition from the people, especially the youth.
Regarding this, they allegedly demanded that plainclothes police cooperate with hired thugs to ensure that no DCP meetings are held in Kiambu County or in the entire Mt Kenya area.
Source: Twitter
He urged Ruto to avoid continuing violence against his party, noting that the Mount Kenya area is determined to vote to remove him in 2027 and will not be disturbed even if their businesses are targeted.
At the same time, he shared the pain Wamatangi experienced, comforting him as he faced the loss.
“Governor Kimani Wamatangi, my brother, take heart, continue to be careful and continue to serve the people of Kiambu County. I am with you every step of the way and I ask the people of Kiambu to pray for you and stand with you in the face of threats and suffering. The darkest hour is before dawn,” he said.
Within the struggle of Kimani Wamatangi in court
The demolition took place amid a legal dispute after Wamatang’i went to court, citing verbal threats to demolish the buildings.
In a petition filed at the Milimani Commercial Court, the governor claimed that the land belongs to the Kenya Railways Corporation and that he has legally occupied it for more than two decades.
He insisted that the long-term arrangement constituted a valid arrangement under which he operated his business with the full knowledge and consent of the government agency.
The petition further states that around December 17, 2025, persons alleged to be officials, agents or employees of Kenya Railways illegally visited the property and issued verbal threats of eviction.
According to the file, they warned that the buildings would be occupied by December 22, 2025, or any time thereafter, without giving an official notice of eviction or following the procedures required by law.
Wamatangi insisted that such measures violated his constitutional rights to own property and the right to the administration of justice.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
