Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has been arrested following an early morning raid by detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on his homes and offices.

The governor’s arrest comes amid mounting allegations of embezzlement and abuse of office under his administration.

Moments after the arrest, a crowd of agitated residents gathered outside his Thindigua residence in protest, chanting slogans and demanding transparency over the ongoing investigations.

The raid — which extended to the governor’s private residences in Thindigua and Nairobi — is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged procurement irregularities and questionable expenditure under Wamatangi’s administration.

Detectives seized documents and electronic devices, which are now undergoing forensic analysis.

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi arrested, following a raid by EACC on his homes and offices over allegations of embezzlement; residents protesting outside his home

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“This is a comprehensive investigation into possible misappropriation of county resources,” confirmed EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi. However, he declined to provide further details, citing the active nature of the investigation.

The probe is said to be focusing on alleged procurement fraud, shady deals, and conflicts of interest in the awarding of county tenders.

The operation also led to the arrest of nine top officials in Kiambu County, suspected of playing key roles in the irregular dealings.

Although the EACC has yet to disclose the total value of the suspected embezzlement, the arrests suggest the commission is closing in on a broader network of individuals implicated in the scandal.

The move comes as the EACC intensifies pressure on county governments, with sources indicating a strategy to build watertight cases ahead of potential prosecutions.

This latest crackdown follows a similar high-profile operation in Turkana County, where the EACC raided the homes and offices of ten senior officials.

Michael Eregae Ekidor, the County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Finance, is accused of channelling over Sh600 million to companies linked to himself and other officials during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 financial years.

“The suspects are alleged to have abused their positions of trust and authority to embezzle public funds through collusion, procurement fraud, bribery, and payment for fictitious contracts,” the EACC stated in an earlier release.

During the Turkana raids, investigators discovered Sh6.5 million in cash hidden in a vehicle belonging to Ekidor — a find that has raised fresh questions about the extent of illicit wealth accumulation within county offices.

On March 3, 2025, the EACC secured court orders to freeze Sh180 million held in bank accounts linked to Abenyo Amathwel Etiir — a security warden in Turkana County — and his associated companies, further deepening suspicions of widespread corruption.

The actions taken by the EACC in both Kiambu and Turkana have reignited public demands for accountability and transparency from those entrusted with managing public funds.

“There’s a growing fatigue among citizens about impunity. But these operations show that the noose is tightening — and that the days of unchecked looting might be numbered,” said a legal analyst familiar with anti-corruption efforts.

EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud is expected to issue a detailed statement later today, outlining the commission’s next steps.