It took a criminal gang of 10 less than ten minutes to vandalise, burn and destroy property worth over Sh200 million belonging to the Nyandarua County government during the Gen Z protests last Wednesday.
Mr Nderi Ndiani, who served in the first county administration as Finance Executive, said the destruction has pushed the county back by a decade.
“Nyandarua started from scratch. Unlike other counties, we did not inherit any offices or vehicles from the defunct County Council. When I became the Finance Executive, we had a dedicated staff, but due to a lack of vehicles, the department could not collect revenue effectively. My priority in 2014 was to purchase vehicles, and by the end of 2015, the county’s revenue collection had significantly improved,” said Mr Ndiani.
Nyandarua Governor Badilisha inspects Ol Kalou offices after 26 vehicles were burnt during protests
Video footage recorded by a resident shows the gang moving confidently from vehicle to vehicle in what appeared to be a well-rehearsed and coordinated operation.
The criminals first smashed windscreens, stole valuables then set the vehicles ablaze.
The footage reveals that the group was operating under the command of a heavily built man in a white jacket. Their mission was timed to coincide with the police shooting of a protester, which agitated demonstrators and diverted police attention.
As police engaged protesters near the Central Business District, the gang approached the county government offices from the opposite direction, passing by the Ol Kalou Police Station. Hooded at first, some members removed their coverings due to the heat and chaos caused by the fires.
After destroying 26 county vehicles, the gang was seen packing stolen goods into bags in a corner and collecting what appeared to be petrol, before moving on to vandalise and set fire to government offices.
“The destruction of offices and vehicles will severely impact service delivery... Most of their (senior county government officers’) vehicles were parked there, assuming the area was safe due to its proximity to the police station. It was also convenient for drivers who work late,” said Governor Kiarie Badilisha.
Nyandarua County Government offices located opposite Ol Kalou Police Station set on fire during the June 25, 2025 protests.
Photo credit: Waikwa Maina | Nation
He added that the county will have to rework its budget for the new financial year, diverting funds from development projects to replace lost property.
“We had a store stocked with youth empowerment equipment that was meant for distribution during the August International Youth Week—motorcycles, salon kits, agricultural tools—now all either stolen or destroyed,” the governor said.
Also torched were the Assistant County Commissioner’s office, Sub-County Education offices, and part of the Ol Kalou Police Station.
At the education office, County Director of Education Philip Wambua confirmed that all files and property were lost in the fire. “The sub-county director and staff have nowhere to operate from. We are appealing to Ol Kalou CDF to help us build new offices. The loss is immense,” he said.
Other affected staff include the Quality Assurance Director and departmental teams housed in the same building.
Nyandarua Central Sub-County Police Commander Sammy Kamau said investigators have obtained CCTV footage and recovered several items believed to have been stolen from the county government stores, including Keg beer containers, car batteries and iron sheets.
“Our investigations target both the planners and the executors of these criminal acts,” he said.
In a Sunday statement, the National Police Service confirmed a successful intelligence-led operation in Huruma and Vatican Estates.
“Officers arrested 11 suspects and recovered items believed to have been stolen during the June 25, 2025, demonstrations. All suspects are in custody pending arraignment. The recovered items have been secured as evidence,” read the statement.
