Rigathi Gachagua: Nine co-accused persons arraigned over Ksh27.4 million fraud
PD Reporter and DPPS
Members of Parliament allied to Deputy President William Ruto yesterday accused the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) of politicising the fight against corruption.
The MPs, who spoke at Ruto’s Karen residence, argued that government agencies were increasingly using the anti-corruption calls to stifle independent voices.
They said the DCI is a key actor in the intimidation of leaders associated with Ruto.
The MPs spoke a day after it emerged that detectives at the DCI said they had finalised investigations into tenders of companies associated with Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua involving Sh12 billion suspected to be proceeds of graft.
The amount, transacted through 40 companies, is said to have passed through or ended up in his accounts.
The detectives believe the companies are linked directly to Gachagua, his close family members or associates.
Only shareholders
Most of the transfers, according to the detectives, ended up in a company known as Wamunyoro Investments Limited, where Gachagua and his wife Dorcas Wanjiku are the only shareholders.
“We have completed that investigation and it has taken us a lot of time,” Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti is quoted.
Eight months ago, detectives from the Serious Fraud Unit of the DCI questioned the MP over alleged corruption and money laundering and later released him without charges.
In their final report, the detectives accuse Gachagua of using his companies and proxies to fraudulently procure health tenders in both counties and the national government.
For instance, while a company known as Upperdeck Agencies won a Sh9.4 million tender to supply linen to Nyeri County hospitals, its proprietors were listed, in the bank records, as Gerald Waema Mbatha and Moses Otieno.
Detectives later found out that when the money was paid on February 18, 2015, the entire amount was transferred to Wamunyoro Investments Limited, leaving a balance of Sh5 only.
Speaking at Ruto’s residence, the women leaders who included Kiambu Woman Representative Gathoni wa Muchomba, Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa, Kandara MP Alice Wahome, Kabete MP Githua Wamacukuru, Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, Nakuru Woman Rep Lizah Chelule, Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa and Taita Taveta Woman Representative Lydia Haika accused the DCI of employing selective justice saying he was killing the fight against corruption.
“The laws must be defined independently of the circumstances of those to whom the rules are intended to apply,” she said.
She asked Gathoni who recently defected to the DP’s political wing to prepare for harassment from government organs.
