This archive report was first published on 24 July 2021.
Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua was arrested from his home on Friday, July 23, 2021, and grilled for hours at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters before being locked up at Gigiri Police Station.
According to his lawyer, Wahome Gikonyo, Rigathi is being accused of attempting to defraud the Nyeri County Government of Sh27 million as well as conspiring to defraud the county of Sh6 million.
The third count is money-laundering, with Rigathi alleged to have laundered Sh112 million from the Bungoma County Government. The fourth charge is laundering Sh7 billion deposited in his fixed account.
He is also accused of conflict of interest involving Sh800 million from Mathira NG-CDF.
“All these charges are false and fabricated. If he is alleged to have conspired to commit the crimes with other conspirators, where are they? Who are they? Why have they not been arrested?” posed Gikonyo.
Several legislators, including Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah, claimed they saw this coming after UDA defeated Jubilee candidate in the Kiambaa by-election.
Ichung’wah sensationally claimed a scheme has been hatched to eliminate, through accidents and poisoning, politicians supporting Deputy President William Ruto. He claimed more UDA leaders will be arrested.
According to him, he is among those targeted for arrest alongside Gatundu MP Moses Kuria and Ruto campaign strategist Dennis Itumbi.
