It’s political intimidation, Wamatangi says after grilling by EACC

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi, joined by his supporters, addresses the media after leaving EACC offices on April 15, 2025/DOUGLAS OKIDDY

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has dismissed allegations against him by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

The governor termed the Tuesday raid as 'political intimidation, saying he will not be cowed.

On Tuesday, the EACC raided Wamatangi's home and the homes of eight other county officials.

EACC said it executed search warrants at the residences and offices of the nine individuals as part of an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after he was grilled at EACC Headquarters, the Kiambu governor said it was all a political witch hunt.

The governor affirmed his commitment to transforming the county to greater levels.

"It is purely political intimidation; there is no reason why more than 50 police officers can wake up to my home and almost 200 deployed to various ministers' offices in my government. The reason is only one: they are targeting my ministers who perform because they want to make my government a failure," Wamatangi said outside EACC Headquarters.

"I want to tell anyone who is seeking the governorship of Kiambu that it is the people who elect the governor, not the police."

The governor said that those behind the raid at his and other staff's houses are afraid of his record. He pledged to double his development record as the governor of Kiambu and prove the nemeses wrong.

"You want to soil our names. I am not afraid; I will not be cowed nor intimidated, and I will stand by the principle that our people deserve a right in Kiambu County," he said.

Wamatangi dismissed allegations by EACC, saying he should have been invited to the commission rather than them raiding his residence.

The governor further said that he is willing to provide documentation to anti-corruption officers.

After the raid, protests erupted at the residence of the governor as protesters were seen carrying leaves, singing, and dancing while calling for his release.

The commission said the operation forms part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial and procurement malpractices within the County Government of Kiambu.

This focuses on allegations of conflict of interest, procurement irregularities, and abuse of office against the senior officials in the awarding of a contract for the Supply, Delivery, Installation, Testing, Training, Commissioning, and Support Services of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System.

The contract in question was valued at Sh230 million and was awarded during the 2022/2023 financial year.

EACC said the operation has resulted in the recovery of critical evidentiary material to support ongoing investigations.