Two MPs allied to DP Gachagua grilled over allegations of financing anti-Gov't protests

Two Members of Parliament allied to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were on Wednesday evening released from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters on Kiambu Road after being questioned over their involvement in sponsoring the nationwide anti-government protests.

The two, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya and his Embakasi Central counterpart Mejja Donk, were on Monday evening picked near a city hotel in the capital, Nairobi.

They were then rushed by the DCI detectives to the headquarters to answer questions on their possible involvement in sponsoring chaos, mayhem and anarchy in the country during the month-long anti-government protests.

According to sources within the DCI, the two were put to task to explain the source of their wealth, as detectives continue to piece together the money-trail and the activities of the two since the beginning of the protests.

“Anybody with any evidence, any fact, of whatever misdeed we did, should come very clear and tell us this particular day we financed this or mobilized that…these are the things they should table,” said Gakuya.

Mejja Donk added: “We were also asked whether we were buying t-shirts and water, of which I believe that this is just political.”

The two legislators who have been seen as Gachagua’s fiercest defenders termed their woes as witch-hunt and ploy to settle political scores.

They should stop witch-hunting people by painting them as followers of somebody, because we’re not, we’re members of UDA and we’re loyal to both of them,” stated Gakuya.

Donk noted: “They summoned us because we’re supporters of the deputy president. We’re asking, when did we have two parties?”

The two now make it five the number of Gachagua’s allies who have been grilled on the same topic, within two days, including three other close confidants in his office, who were on Tuesday put to task to explain their role if - any in - sponsoring of the demos.

The three were former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu, who now works as a political advisor in the office of the DP, and former Embakasi West lawmaker Eric Theuri, who now works as the youth advisor in the office of the deputy president.

Munene wa Mumbi, who is the private secretary of the DP, also recorded a statement in the widened probe.

President William Ruto had previously termed the Gen Z-led demos as a peaceful process that had been hijacked by organised criminals, promising to bring the financiers to book.

The events also come amid speculation of a possible impeachment motion against DP Gachagua, whose fate now hangs in the balance, after his top honchos were questioned.

Sources say a night meeting held by some MPs from the Mt. Kenya region resolved to kick out Gachagua as soon as the vetting process of the CS nominees, which starts on Thursday, is complete.