Kitengela is a fast-growing town in Kajiado County, a municipality in Kajiado County, Kenya, located 30 Kilometers south of Nairobi. It forms part of the greater Metropolitan Area.
Kitengela is increasingly associated with tension, demonstrations, and unrest. Over the past year, the town has made headlines for land disputes, violent protests, state crackdowns, and allegations of abductions and torture.
But what exactly is fueling this unrest?
The reasons are far beyond spontaneous outrage. Politically motivated incitement and widespread discontent over land ownership and governance are the two big issues, making the residents angrier by the day.
1. Protest Culture and Police Response in Kitengela, Kajiado County
What began as legal resistance has repeatedly spilled into the streets.
On June 25, 2025, Gen Z-led protests turned chaotic as police clashed with demonstrators on Namanga Road. Teargas, stone-throwing, and police helicopters overhead became the norm.
Police were even seen retreating under attack on Mwireri Road. Earlier, in August 2024, at least seven protesters were arrested in Kitengela as they lit bonfires on Deliverance Road. Shops remained closed, and residents fled the town centre.
In July 2025, tensions reached a horrifying low when a mob stormed Kitengela Sub-County Hospital, harassing medical staff and vandalising the facility.
The Health Union Caucus has since threatened a nationwide health worker strike if hospitals are not protected.
Also Read: Body Found Dumped in Kitengela
2. Enforced Disappearances and Fear Tactics
The fear in Kitengela intensified after the abduction of two brothers, Jamil and Aslam Longton, on August 19, 2024.
Their family alleged that they were kidnapped by individuals believed to be police officers, alongside activist Bob Njagi. For 30 days, the trio was held incommunicado at an undisclosed location and subjected to severe torture.
Their brother, Abdi Razak, detailed their suffering, saying that they were given one meal a day, 300ml of water daily, subjected to beatings, and even denied the right to pray.
The brothers were only allowed to relieve themselves once a week. After a month, they were dumped near Bishop Gate in Gachie, given back their phones and Ksh300 for fare, and warned not to speak.
Medical reports confirmed injuries to Aslam, adding weight to the family’s claims. The incident has shocked the public and intensified fears of extra-judicial tactics to suppress dissent.
3. Political Power Games and Public Perception
In June 2025, Kajiado North MP Onesmus Ngogoyo was sued for branding public infrastructure with his face and political slogans.
Sheria Mtaani accused him of misleading the public into believing he directly implemented government-funded projects, violating constitutional guidelines.
Additionally, critics argued this further erodes trust in leadership.
Combined with threats of land repossession and tax hikes, many locals see such branding as political grandstanding, using taxpayer-funded projects for private political gain.
Also Read: Family Reveals Last Moments of 19-year-old Who was Shot in Kitengela
4. Land Disputes in Kitengela, Kajiado County
In February 2025, Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku announced that the county would begin repossessing land from owners who had defaulted on land rate payments.
The move sparked fury among residents, especially those with freehold titles, who argued the policy was unjustified and unlawful.
Through Sheria Mtaani, locals filed a petition challenging the move. The Kajiado High Court agreed, issuing a conservatory order in December 2024 barring the county from collecting land rates on freehold property.
Further, Justice Loice Komingoi ruled that doing so would unlawfully convert freehold land to leasehold and that the policy disproportionately affected small landowners.
Residents also argue that the county has failed in basic service delivery, no clean water, no sewerage, impassable roads, and poor security.
“They collect land rates, but we fund our own lighting, pit latrines, and water,” a resident noted in court papers.
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