Kediri Government Building Reopens After Last Year's Arson Attack

INFO TEMPO – The office building of the Regional Secretariat (Setda) of Kediri Regency, which has been fully rehabilitated after being damaged in an arson attack a year ago, has now begun to be reoccupied.

The return to the Setda building began with a joint prayer, donations to orphaned children, and a tumpeng-cutting thanksgiving ceremony led by the Regent of Kediri, Hanindhito Himawan Pramana, on Wednesday, 22 July 2026.

“In essence, we are all grateful that over the past year’s journey this building was almost completely lost, and, thank God, today it can function again,” said the man affectionately known as Mas Dhito.

A number of departments have already moved into the new building, including the Planning and Finance Division (Renkeu), General Affairs, People’s Welfare (Kesra), Economy, and Governance, with other offices to follow.

The office building, rehabilitated by the Ministry of Public Works, shows little structural change, with only the paintwork now appearing brighter. Reflecting on the arson committed by elements of the protesting crowd on 30 August 2025, one notable difference is that the building is now equipped with security systems such as fire detectors.

Mas Dhito expressed hope that with the building now reoccupied, all government employees within it would return to work with renewed spirit. He emphasised that services to the public must now be even better. “With this new building, we hope it can bring benefits in serving the community,” he said.

After moving into the new building, a number of employees were visibly happy. This was because, over the past year, they had been forced to share space with other offices that had survived the arson attack. (*)