Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has spoken out hours after his businesses on Douglas Wakiihiru Road, off Langata Road and behind Nyayo Stadium, were demolished Tuesday night, marking the second such demolition at the site. While visiting the area that hosted a car wash and restaurant business Wednesday morning, he termed the destruction as "'political persecution".
"I started here in 1994 washing cars. Then I started selling cars. I have been here for years. When I took this premise, I took a 65-year lease for this property from Kenya Railways. I have been faithfully paying the fees for all those years," he said.
Some of the vehicles which were destroyed during an overnight demolition guarded by police officers on a business property alleged to be linked to Governor Wamatangi.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation
He arrived accompanied by religious leaders, who promptly began fervent prayers at the site.
Heavily armed police officers, excavators and bulldozers moved into his business premises Tuesday night and brought down two semi-permanent buildings and damaged other property at the site, including vehicles.
Among the structures brought down were a car wash facility and a restaurant that had been operating along the stretch.
Business owners salvage their belongings after their businesses were demolished last night along Douglas Wakiihuri road in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation
The road has also been blocked, disrupting movement in the area.
By Thursday morning, debris and demolished structures were still visible, with affected business owners counting losses.
The Governor, through his company Superclean Shine Enterprises, has moved to court following what he describes as “verbal threats” to demolish the site. In a petition filed at the Milimani Commercial Magistrates’ Court, he says the property belongs to Kenya Railways and has been leased to him for more than 20 years.
Some of the vehicles which were destroyed during an overnight demolition guarded by police officers on a business property alleged to be linked to Governor Wamatangi.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation
“Throughout this period, the applicant has duly paid rent which has been consistently received and acknowledged by the 1st Respondent,” the petition states, adding that this affirms “a valid and subsisting tenancy” under which the business has operated on the premises with the knowledge of Kenya Railways Corporation.
Members of the public look on at the scale of the demolition conducted overnight along Douglas Wakiihuri Road.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation
The Governor claims that on or about December 17, 2025, officers acting on behalf of Kenya Railways visited the premises and issued verbal threats of eviction and demolition.
“They verbally threatened to evict the Applicant from the suit property and demolish the structures and developments erected thereon by December 22, 2025, or at any time before or thereafter,” the court papers say.
A view of what is left of businesses that were demolished overnight along Douglas Wakiihuri Road in Nairobi, which are linked to Governor Wamatangi.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation
According to the petition, the threats were made without any written eviction notice or compliance with the procedures set out under the Land Act.
“The actions and threats of the 1st Respondent violate the Applicant’s rights to property and to fair administrative action as guaranteed under Articles 40 and 47 of the Constitution,” the petition argues, adding that the move is “in contravention of the mandatory procedural requirements under the Land Act.”
The Governor was seeking court orders to stop the planned demolition. The matter was scheduled for a hearing yesterday at the Milimani Commercial Court.
Some of the vehicles which were destroyed during an overnight demolition guarded by police officers on a business property alleged to be linked to Governor Wamatangi.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation
Wamatangi's car bazaar and car wash premises were first demolished in 2019, for allegedly being on grabbed land.
The then Jubilee Party Senator condemned the demolitions, saying he was wrongly targeted as he had all the necessary documents to show he obtained the land legally.
Speaking during an interview on NTV at the time, he said the property has been leased to him by the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC).
"I know I am not above the law. That is land that was leased to me. We have been there for 20 years," Mr Wamatangi said, adding he has never received a notice ordering him to vacate.
Governor Wamatangi, who spoke at the site where his property and business were demolished this morning, said, “We know that God does not discriminate. I started here in 1994 washing cars. Then I went ahead to sell cars. I have been here for 40 years. When I took this premise I took a lease for 65 years for this property from Kenya Railways. I have been faithfully paying the fees for all those years.”
He added, “I am sorry for those who lost their businesses. I believe in God. Just like our religious leaders have said, I still have the hands. I still have the brains. I said I do not want politics except work for Kiambu residents....All those who want to vie for governor, let us meet on the battlefield. Stop using government offices to frustrate us. We did not receive any notice. We have court orders…they threatened us and we took this court order.”
