Rigathi Gachagua Blames Late Brother’s Estate as He Fights Corruption Claims
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has vehemently refuted corruption accusations ahead of an impeachment motion set for Tuesday, dismissing the claims as a smear campaign aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
During a press briefing on Monday, Gachagua labeled the allegations raised by MP Mwengi Mutuse as “outrageous and baseless,” asserting that he will defend himself in Parliament.
Among the accusations are claims that Gachagua fraudulently acquired several properties after taking office in 2022.
The deputy president clarified that most of the properties in question, including the Olive Garden Hotel, Vipingo Beach Resort, Queens Gate Apartments, and Langata Highrise Flats, were part of his late brother James Nderitu Gachagua’s estate. He explained that his brother, who passed away in 2017, had bequeathed these assets to him and others through his will.
“My brother died in 2017, long before I became deputy president. These claims are nothing but malicious propaganda,” Gachagua asserted. He added that he, Mwai Mathenge, and lawyer Njoroge were appointed executors of the will and that any funds from the sale of assets like Olive Garden Hotel were legally distributed as per his late brother’s wishes.
Gachagua also addressed the eight-year-old mosquito net scandal in which his son was implicated, stating that it was irrelevant to his current office.
He explained that the company at the center of the controversy, Shobika Impex Limited, had appointed Crystal Kenya as its local agent for logistical tasks, and that the tendering process was managed by Shobika, not his son.
The deputy president disclosed that he had contacted the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) on behalf of Crystal Kenya when a Ksh. 500 million bid bond was held up during investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). He affirmed that the EACC later closed the case and returned the money.
Gachagua concluded by criticizing the public participation process that led to his impeachment motion, calling it “poorly executed and inaccessible” to the majority of Kenyans.
He claimed that the legal jargon used made it difficult for the public to understand, and his response was not included in the materials provided to citizens.
“The Tuesday impeachment debate will go down as the most shameful episode in Parliament’s history,” Gachagua declared, “as legislators attempt to oust a democratically elected leader based on fabrications.”
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Rigathi Gachagua Blames Late Brother’s Estate as He Fights Corruption Claims
