This archive report was first published on 28 June 2020.
On June 28, 2020, the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) moved in to seize over Sh200 million from the bank accounts of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua, a staunch supporter of Deputy President William Ruto.
The agency's action comes after preliminary investigations established that Gachagua and his company, Jenne Enterprises Limited, were involved in a suspected complex scheme of money laundering.
Allegations of Money Laundering ¶
According to ARA, the MP and his company received huge sums of money from state agencies and ministries, 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.
ARA stated in court that 'There are reasonable grounds to believe that the suspect's bank accounts were used as a conduit for money laundering in efforts to conceal, disguise the nature, source, disposition and movement of illicit funds and should be preserved.'
Accounts Frozen ¶
Justice John Onyiego of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court recently issued orders stopping the MP and Jenne Enterprises from dealing with or transferring more than Sh200 million in several accounts linked with the MP.
One of the three accounts holds Sh165 million, a second account holds Sh35 million, while the other holds Sh773,228. A fourth account, holding Sh1,138,142, is registered in the name of Jenne Enterprises.
