Developers at grabbed Posta land in Kiambu arrested, Eacc petitioned to initiate probe

Police in Kiambu have this morning descended on illegal developers and arrested scores of workers constructing at a grabbed piece of land belonging to the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) in Kiambu town in a protracted row that has entangled the Kiambu county government and PCK.

The arrests come barely a fortnight after the office of the Postmaster General John Tonui invited the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Eacc) to initiate abuse of office claims against Kiambu governor Kimani Wamatangi and his Chief Officer for Roads, Transport and Public Works, Daniel Njenga.

Tonui has severally made requests to the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja’s office and the Kiambu Sub County Police Commander to deploy police to secure erection of a perimeter wall to safeguard the disputed property to no avail.

“Several suspects arrested are in custody and will help us in the investigations.” A senior officer privy with the probe intimated.

According to a letter seen The Informer Media Group addressed to the anti-corruption watchdog show the Chief Officer in question is overseeing the construction of the kiosks on Posta’s land despite there being court orders barring them.

The letter to the Eacc further adds that after the Kiambu based police made the arrest earlier this month and later released the suspects, Njenga, the Chief Officer, reportedly appeared at the Kiambu Police Station and claimed that he was acting on instruction given.

“Investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation Officers (DCIO), Kiambu indicate that Njenga appeared at the Kiambu police station claiming to be in charge of the illegal construction, acting on behalf of governor Wamatangi,” Posta told EACC in the letter.

After the demolition, the county again authorised the unlawful construction on the piece of land, deploying goons to obstruct eviction efforts by the Posta.

They indicated that they had sought the intervention of EACC because the governor is contravening Section 46 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Act 2003, adding that they had irregularly acquired the land which is rightfully leased by PCK.

The corporation called for an urgent intervention and ensure that legal and criminal actions are taken against the Chief Officer and compel the police officers to enforce orders of the court and directions by the Inspector General of Police.

Eacc Director of Communication Stephen Karuga confirmed that the anti-graft agency received the letter although he did not indicate the progress of the investigations.

Last week, Tonui raised a red alert over widespread encroachment on its land countrywide as police remain lethargic to act on complaints lodged.

“The management of Postal Corporation of Kenya has noted with great concern the illegal encroachment of PCK properties by private developers and trespassers, Posta Kenya takes this opportunity to warn any individual or entities involved in any form of encroachment of the Corporation’s properties,” Tunoi who is also the PCK Chief Executive Officer says in a public notice-cum press release dated March 18, 2025.

He added that the Corporation has reported the matter to the relevant authorities including the Lands Ministry, the National Land Commission (NLC), National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) among others for the necessary action.

The impasse led to the demolition traders’ structures erected on the property, setting the stage for a showdown after Governor Kimani Wamatangi declared the devolved unit owns the portion in question but documents in our possession show the land belongs to PCK.

The same was also confirmed by surveyors who undertook reconfirmation of beacons in presence of PCK and Kiambu county government representatives.

In the latest development, the Postal Corporation wrote to governor Wamatangi on March 17, 2025, seeking the county government’s co-operation towards securing the property after surveyors established boundaries of the Kiambu Post Office land.

“Following the successful reconfirmation of the beacons and boundaries of the Kiambu Post Office property, jointly undertaken and validated by surveyors from both the Kiambu County government and the Postal Corporation, we are pleased with the spirit of collaboration and professionalism demonstrated throughout this process,” wrote Tunoi.

He added: “With the property boundaries now clearly established, the Corporation is prepared to commence the secure fencing of the area within the confirmed property limits. This initiative is to prevent further encroachment on the property and safeguard the interests of both institutions and the general public.”

The fencing off of the property was scheduled to commence last Tuesday, March 18, 2025 but police are yet to offer the necessary security.

In a letter to the Kiambu sub county police commander, the Corporation requests the deployment of security personnel to oversee the exercise which remains to be executed yet.

Additionally, an official from the Kiambu Post Office, a Mr Njoroge has reported a case of trespass to the local police station through OB Number 51/17/03/2025.

Besides a court order issued in 2018 restraining the Kiambu county covernment from interfering with land owned by the Post Office in Thika is yet to be implemented.

While delivering her ruling in a case filed by Postal Corporation against the county government, Lady Justice L. Gacheru directed latter to remove a bus stage on the Post Office property and to desist from charging the matatu operators who are using the suit property as a bus stage.

“The action of converting of the suit property to a bus terminal would indeed waste and damage the suit property. Therefore, the court finds that status quo should be maintained herein and the status quo is the one that existed before the bus stage was allowed to operate on the suit property,” the Judge ruled.

And in a sharp contradiction regarding the Kiambu Posta land, Wamatangi alleged that the property is actually owned by the devolved unit and the Corporation had only leased it.

PCK is a national government entity whose services are not devolved.

“Everyone needs to know that this land belongs to the county government of Kiambu, that is the truth and the law. What happened is that it was leased to Post Office for 99 years which is about 30 years to expiry, but in 2018 traders were allocated this space which Posta was not using,” said the governor.