Gov't seizes Rigathi Gachagua's Ksh.200M

This comes after the Kenyan High Court ruled that the MP and DP Ruto's running mate was unable to prove how he obtained the money.

"Indeed he admitted he received from government agencies ....there was nothing to show of the contract has had been awarded a tender by that ministry...," the court noted 

The court stated in its decision that there was no evidence that the MP executed the contract in order to obtain the funds.

At the same time, the court rejected the argument that the Ksh.200 million shillings was in a fixed account.

According to preliminary investigations conducted by the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA), Mr Gachagua and Jenne Enterprises Limited were involved in a suspected complex money laundering scheme.

The funds are held at Rafiki Microfinance Bank in three accounts registered in the MP's name: one with Ksh.165 million, another with Ksh.773,228 and another with Ksh.35 million.

His accounts were frozen in late 2020, following the conclusion of an investigation by detectives from the DCI's Serious Crimes Investigations Unit into the MP's alleged embezzlement of public funds.

Investigations into the alleged passage of Ksh.12.5 billion through his accounts were at the center of the controversy.

Rigathi is suspected of using proxies to obtain contracts through fraud by using 22 companies, with him as the only beneficiary.

The funds came from the Kenya Informal Settlements Programme, the State Department for Special Planning, the Ministry of Health, the Bungoma County government, the Mathira Constituency Development Fund, the Nyeri County government, and the National Irrigation Board.

In June, during a campaign in the Konyu area of Mathira constituency, the vocal MP vowed to recover the money that was frozen in his accounts if Kenya Kwanza coalition clinches the presidency in the August polls.

According to Gachagua , he would recover the money that was frozen in 2020 if the Kenya Kwanza Camp carried the day at the polls. 

“And you know if we take over the government… you know this government froze my money , when we take over, the money will be unfrozen,” the Mathira MP said in a political meeting in the area.

The proceeds, Gachagua said, will be used to construct infrastructure at his home where men will have a fireside chat with him as women engage 'Mama Gachagua'.

“I put up a good house and a small house ya wazee ya kuchomea nyama as they take their favourite drinks as we chat - sawa?

"Then for women I put up a place where they can visit Mama Gachagua to take porridge as they sing and praise. And because women love dancing I will install a kinanda for dancing to,” Gachagua said in a bid to entice residents.