Seven months ago, the High Court seized KSh 200 million belonging to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The court in its decision stated that the then-Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua fraudulently acquired the cash from state institutions and the County Government of Bungoma.
The High Court further stated that the second in command failed to prove how he acquired the said cash.
“Indeed, he (Rigathi Gachagua) admitted he received from government agencies… there was nothing to show of the contract has had been awarded a tender by that ministry…,” the court noted.
However, it appears that the deputy president has started off the 2023 year with a big win after the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) urged the court of Appeal to return KSh 202 million that was seized from DP Rigathi Gachagua.
ARA disowned the evidence by the Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) which had earlier stated that Gachagua had fraudulently acquired the said cash.
In filings in court, a police investigator attached to the agency said the businessman-cum politician legitimately acquired the said cash.
“The evidence obtained has satisfactorily explained the source and legitimacy of the funds at issue and the ARA is satisfied that the same is not proceeds of crime as was initially perceived and should be released to Gachagua,” the police investigator told the Court of Appeal.
ARA further said it had conducted its own independent investigations which had established that there were no complaints or defaults raised or issued against the contractors or after the execution of the contract.
In one of his media interviews after he was sworn in as the deputy president on Tuesday, September 13, Gachagua said he was not worried about the KSh 200 million that had been seized.
He said at the time that the money does not bother him because he is already paid as Deputy President.
“Mimi sishughuliki na hiyo maneno, si mimi ni naibu wa rais na niko na mshahara… Kama watanirudishia hiyo pesa nitashukuru, kama wataninyang’anya pia.. Unajua hata nikija dunia hii sikuwa hata na shilingi moja, nikitoka dunia hii, sitaenda hata na shilingi moja,” Gachagua said during a live interview with Citizen TV.
