DIANI, KENYA – The coastal residence of former Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Ambassador Macharia Kamau, was extensively vandalised on Friday, October 31, 2025, in what the veteran diplomat has described as a lawless attempt to illegally seize his property. The attack, which occurred in the Galu area of Diani, Kwale County, saw unidentified individuals overwhelm security, destroy personal belongings, and cause significant damage to the 24-year-old home.

Ambassador Kamau, a distinguished figure in Kenyan and international diplomacy, was attending a conference in Serbia at the time of the incident. “Criminal elements—vandals, goons—attacked my house, vandalised it, broke all my belongings, and threw them out,” Kamau stated on Friday. “When they arrived in the morning, they overwhelmed my security, leaving my housekeeper terrified.”

The property is currently the subject of an ownership dispute before the Kwale Environment and Land Court, filed in 2021 as Civil Suit No. 49. According to Kamau’s lawyer, Njuguna Chuchu, the act of vandalism was a direct violation of existing court orders intended to preserve the status of the property pending a legal resolution. “They knew there was a court order, yet they went ahead,” Chuchu told Nation Media Group, emphasizing the perpetrators' contempt for the judicial process.

Security officials were photographed at the scene on October 31, 2025, assessing the damage. Neighbours reportedly intervened, preventing the complete demolition of the house. Ambassador Kamau has linked the attack to broader, systemic issues of land grabbing in the coastal region, alleging the individuals were motivated by local business interests. “This is not an isolated incident. These individuals are being motivated by local businessmen who want to get their hands on other people's property,” he asserted.

A Career in Public Service

Ambassador Macharia Kamau has had a long and decorated career. He served as the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from February 2018 until his retirement in 2022. Prior to this, he was Kenya's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 2010 to 2018. During his tenure at the UN, he played a pivotal role in developing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. His extensive UN career also includes senior leadership positions with UNICEF and the UNDP in various countries, including South Africa, Rwanda, and Botswana.

Wider Context of Coastal Land Tensions

The incident at Ambassador Kamau’s residence is symptomatic of the volatile and often violent nature of land disputes in Kwale County and the wider coastal region. These conflicts frequently involve complex historical grievances, allegations of forged documents, and accusations of collusion between private developers and corrupt officials. In recent years, Diani has been a hotspot for such disputes, with numerous court cases challenging the ownership of prime beach-front properties. These disputes have sometimes escalated to violence, including a case in August 2024 involving the kidnapping and attempted murder of a man over a contested parcel in Diani. The judiciary has previously blamed state and land officials for impunity and illegal actions that have fueled these conflicts. The attack on a high-profile individual like Ambassador Kamau underscores the audacity of the networks involved and raises serious questions about the enforcement of property rights and the rule of law in the region. An investigation by Kwale County police is expected to commence. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED.