There was drama outside the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) offices in Nairobi on Monday after a group of angry supporters of Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi threatened to storm the building, demanding his immediate release.
Governor Wamatangi was arrested earlier in the morning during a surprise operation by EACC detectives.
The arrest followed coordinated raids at his private home and Kiambu County offices, where investigators seized documents and electronic devices believed to be linked to a corruption investigation.
Nine senior county officials were also detained in the operation amid growing pressure from Kiambu leaders who have raised concerns over how county funds have been handled.
But Wamatangi’s supporters believe the arrest is politically motivated. In a video shared widely on social media, the crowd could be seen and heard chanting, “No Wamatangi, No Peace!” as they clashed with security officers outside the EACC headquarters.
Some were holding placards demanding the governor’s release and dismissing the corruption claims as fake.
“This is not justice, it’s politics!” one protester shouted.
“You will not silence our governor through intimidation!” said another.
Security was tightened around the building as tensions rose, with anti-riot police trying to calm the crowd and prevent any attempt to break into the offices.
Governor Wamatangi, who took over from former Governor Ferdinand Waititu, currently serving time over a KSh588 million graft case, has recently been under pressure, with questions raised over the management of county resources during his term.
The EACC is yet to issue an official statement on the arrest, but sources say the governor and his team are being questioned as part of a wider probe into alleged misuse of county funds.
Meanwhile, political leaders from Kiambu and beyond have started weighing in, with some calling for calm while others accuse the government of using anti-corruption bodies to settle political scores.
