How a Five-Minute Gang Raid Destroyed Sh200m in Nyandarua County Assets

Nyandarua County is reeling from a devastating attack on its public infrastructure, an incident that occurred on 25 June 2025, during demonstrations marking the first anniversary of the 2024 Gen Z anti-Finance Bill protests. 

The coordinated assault in Ol Kalou, the county's administrative centre, resulted in the destruction of government property valued at over Sh200 million, crippling essential services and exposing significant security vulnerabilities. Under the guise of widespread national protests, a criminal gang executed a rapid and meticulously planned attack. The assault saw 26 government vehicles and 18 motorcycles vandalised and incinerated, alongside substantial damage to several government offices. 

CCTV footage reveals the attackers moved with calculated precision, smashing vehicle windows, looting valuables, and dousing vehicles with petrol before setting them alight. Authorities believe a man in a white jacket coordinated the gang's movements during the less than ten-minute raid. The timing of the attack appears to be strategic. It coincided with a police shooting of a protester in the town centre, which diverted law enforcement resources and created an exploitable opportunity for the gang. 

Witnesses describe the group as comprising approximately ten individuals. Some initially wore hoods, which they removed as the fires intensified. These actions suggest prior reconnaissance and an understanding of police deployment patterns.

The destruction extends beyond vehicles. Government offices, including the Assistant County Commissioner's office and the Sub-County Education Department, were torched. A store housing youth empowerment equipment intended for distribution during the upcoming International Youth Week, including motorcycles, salon kits, and agricultural tools, was also destroyed. 

The National Registration Bureau office suffered significant damage, with over 1,000 national identity cards and biometric kits destroyed, severely disrupting citizen services. Governor Kiarie Badilisha, upon visiting the scene, described the incident as a catastrophic blow to the county's operations. 

"The destruction of offices and vehicles will severely impact service delivery. Senior government officers are now paralysed," he said, adding that the county will be forced to revise its budget to replace the lost assets. 

The education sector has been particularly hard hit. According to County Director of Education Philip Wambua, all files and property at the Sub-County Education offices were lost in the fire. The destruction has also affected the Quality Assurance Directorate and other departmental teams, effectively halting educational administration in the region. Law enforcement agencies have since launched a criminal investigation into the incident. 

Nyandarua Central Sub-County Police Commander Sammy Kamau confirms the recovery of CCTV footage and stolen items, including car batteries, iron sheets, and beer containers. An intelligence-led operation in Huruma and Vatican Estates led to the arrest of 11 suspects, who are currently in custody pending arraignment.

The scale and coordination of the Nyandarua attack have raised serious concerns among security analysts. 

The broader context of the attack is equally concerning. The June 25 demonstrations, held to mark the first anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill protests, were intended as a peaceful expression of public dissent. However, in multiple counties, including Nairobi, Nakuru, and Mombasa, the protests were marred by violence, looting, and clashes with police. According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, at least 16 people were killed and over 400 injured nationwide during the protests.