Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has claimed that he narrowly avoided an assassination attempt during a chaotic market opening ceremony in Kamenu ward, Thika, on Friday evening. The governor alleged that the assassination plot was part of a broader scheme against him, tied to ongoing political conflicts and efforts to oust him from office.
Wamatangi described the incident as a calculated attack, believing that the perpetrators had planned to target him, expecting his presence at the event. “I know all those things that have been done, have been targeting me. I know they had come ready thinking that I would be at Kiganjo,” he stated.
The chaos erupted when two political rival groups clashed over the allocation of market stalls at the proposed market site. During the melee, a shooting occurred, resulting in the death of a 26-year-old man and serious injury to another, who was hit in the chest by a bullet.
Reports indicate that the violence broke out when one of the MPs allegedly fired shots into the crowd after protests erupted. In attendance were several Members of Parliament, including Alice Ng’ang’a, Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), Gabriel Kagombe (Gatundu South), Elijah Njoroge (Gatundu North), and Ngoliba Ward MCA Joachim Njama, who were there to launch the market.
In the aftermath, MP Gabriel Kagombe accused Governor Wamatangi of orchestrating the disruption by hiring goons, which resulted in injuries to himself and other attendees. “It is extremely sad that an elected governor can use an MCA to send goons to attack members of parliament on duty bringing development to the people of Kiambu. It is even worse that in the ensuing altercation, I and other residents were injured,” Kagombe stated.
Authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident. All MPs and their bodyguards present at the scene have been ordered to submit their firearms for ballistic analysis to determine the source of the gunfire and hold the responsible parties accountable.
