'Kinoti directed me to recommend charges against Gachagua' - senior investigator in graft probe

Kuriah, the head of the Serious Crimes Unit, in a sworn affidavit dated October 15, 2022, said that the DCI received a letter from the Financial Reporting Centre on April 15, 2020 concerning alleged criminal conduct by the nine accused as regards embezzlement of funds from the National Irrigation Board.

The other co-accused in the case, are William Wahome Mwangi, Anne Nduta Ruo, Julianne Jahenda Makaa, Samuel Murimi Ireri, Grace Wambui Kariuki, Lawrence Kimaru, Irene Wambui Ndigiriri, David Reuben Nyangi Nguru and M/S Rapid Medical Supplies Ltd.

Kuriah went ahead to say that he received instructions to "promptly carry out investigations, including recording of statements, searches, filing of affidavits in court for orders to access the accused persons' bank accounts among other activities."

Kuriah said that his team was given 'very strict and fixed' timelines to come up with findings promptly'.

He said this made him and his team unable to conduct thorough and comprehensive investigations into the allegations.

Kuriah went on to say, "While investigations were still in progress, the director of DCI, Mr George Kinoti CBS, directed us to make recommendations that will enable the accused persons to face charges..."

"Based on immense pressure from my director, Mr Kinoti, my team made the recommendations The accused persons were charged and investigations could not continue as contemplated for various reasons."

Kuriah said there were crucial areas of investigations that were not adequately covered that would shed light in determining the "culpability or otherwise of the accused persons".

The government seized Gachagua's funds in July. He was the MP for Mathira at the time.

The funds had been frozen in 2020.