Posta raise red alert over widespread grabbing of its assets as row between PCK, Wamatangi escalates

The Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) has raised a red alert over widespread encroachment on its land countrywide as police remain lethargic to act on complaints lodged.

The disclosure of the land grabbing spree by individuals and other entities comes as the Postmaster General John Tunoi seeks support from security organs to secure the corporation’s property.

“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 latest alarm sounded by the PCK boss comes barely 10 days after a row erupted between the Corporation and the Kiambu county government over encroachment of land belonging to the Kiambu Post Office.

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.

Less than three days earlier, the Postmaster General had written to the Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja complaining that security officers in Kiambu had failed to offer security over the eviction of individuals said to have encroached on the land.

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.

About a month ago, the Corporation formally notified the Kiambu County Police Command and the Kiambu County Commissioner’s offices respectively of illegal structures erected on the land and requested their removal.

Tunoi had complained that unknown individuals have unlawfully encroached on the property by commencing construction of permanent structures including foundation excavation on the land.

“Despite reporting this development to the OCPD and the OCS Kiambu and requesting for assistance, the matter remains unresolved and encroachment persists,

“As a state corporation, we rely on the National Police Service to uphold law and order, including the protection of property rights under Article 40 of the Constitution. We trust in your support to address this matter expeditiously,” wrote Tunoi.

Besides, a court order issued in 2018 restraining the Kiambu County Government 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.

He divulged that the county was in the process of putting up decent business kiosks for the 26 traders who have been operating in the area which is also a bus park.

“We had signed an agreement with Posta that the county compensates them for the remaining period of the lease which can only be done legally with respect,” Wamatangi pointed out.

The Postmaster-General has been seeking security reinforcement in erecting a perimeter fence around the land and evicting illegal occupants from the property.

Earlier, on February 28th, Kiambu Senior Deputy County Commissioner T .M Macharia had written to the area OCPD asking his office to provide the security support requested by the Postal Corporation.