Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has confirmed that part of his official security detail has been withdrawn without explanation.
Speaking from his home in Kibiku, Kabete, Kiambu County on Tuesday, Wamatangi said all police officers assigned to him were recalled on Thursday and Friday last week, with no reason given.
Later in the same week, some officers were redeployed to him, but others have yet to report back.
““I have two back but the incident of today raises very serious concerns to me since ordinarily, before I was okay even to move without them, but now it is quite a concern,” Wamatangi stated.
The governor said he intends to write to the Inspector General of Police, Douglas Kanja, to raise concerns about his safety. This follows an incident earlier today in which he claimed he was trailed by unknown individuals in a white vehicle.
“They tried to appear like they were minding other businesses, but it is my movements they were watching. The whole saga tells me there was a sinister motive, and for that matter, it is important that I bring it to public attention, especially to the Inspector General of Police, that it is my position and request that I should have very enhanced security. I cannot and do not want to be a rumour monger, but such people may not have good intentions,” he added.
Wamatangi said he will formally ask the Inspector General to ensure the incident is investigated.
“I expect that there will be immediate action to ensure that as I move around, my security will be taken care of and that my life is guarded just like any other Kenyan, elected leader and especially at this particular time when, for reasons I am not aware of, I seem to be a subject of interest,” he said.
The governor, who often moves without his security detail, noted that today’s incident raised serious concerns and compelled him to speak publicly.
“It is my view and belief that my security needs to be relooked at and enhanced so that those threats can be countered as I remain personally vigilant while doing my work to serve the people of this county who have elected me.”
Wamatangi’s woes come barely a week after the High Court issued orders freezing his personal bank account, those of his wife and children, and ten other individuals over a Ksh.813 million corruption case.
The freeze followed the demolition of his business premises near Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, where his premises were vandalised in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
According to witnesses, police officers arrived at the area around 12am and used teargas canisters and live rounds to disperse crowds and those on duty before demolitions commenced.
