This archive report was first published on 27 June 2020.
Published on June 27, 2020
Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua is facing a major financial setback after the High Court froze Sh200 million in his account.
The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) had petitioned the court to freeze the funds, alleging that they were proceeds of crime.
According to documents filed in court, the funds emanated from various government agencies, including the Ministry of Lands, State Department for Special Planning, Ministry of Health, Bungoma County government, Mathira Constituency Development Fund, Nyeri County government, and the National Irrigation Board.
The funds were held in three accounts at Rafiki Micro Finance Bank, with one account holding Sh165 million, a second account holding Sh35 million, and a third account holding Sh773,228. All three accounts were registered in Gachagua's name.
A fourth account, holding Sh1,138,142, was registered in the name of Jenne Enterprises, a company associated with Gachagua.
The ARA alleged that Gachagua and Jenne Enterprises were involved in a complex scheme of money laundering, and that the funds were used to conceal and disguise the nature, source, disposition, and movement of illicit funds.
Justice John Onyiego of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court stopped Gachagua and Jenne Enterprises from dealing with or transferring the funds, pending the outcome of the petition.
