Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party flag bearer Raila Odinga has questioned the integrity of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaking on Sunday, July 31, during the campaigns in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, the former Prime Minister said he was competing with convicted thieves.
“He (Gachagua) says he will appeal but as of now, he is a convicted thief. Haa watu hawawezi leta mabadiliko (these people cannot bring about change),” Raila said.
The 2022 presidential front runner was speaking in reference to a recent High Court ruling in which Deputy President William Ruto’s presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua was found to have siphoned more than KSh 200 million from government coffers.
Justice Esther Maina found that Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua was paid money from government agencies despite having not supplied any services to the same government.
“I have carefully considered the evidence on record including affidavits, annexures, and submissions by all parties and I am satisfied that the funds are liable for forfeiture to the government,” the judge said.
The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Sunday, July 31, unearthed how the businessman-cum-politician acquired tender deals worth billions of shillings from the government.
In a statement, the sleuths revealed that Gachagua alongside his two trusted female associates approached youth and women and lured them into registering companies and opening accounts with local financial institutions.
“Using proxies who had registered over 20 companies, Rigathi obtained over KSh 1.7 billion from close to 10 government ministries, state departments, parastatals, and county governments paid through Rafiki micro-finance,
“The MP and two of his trusted female associates approached youths and women to register companies and open accounts at Rafiki micro-finance, then used his influence and blackmail to secure tenders for the companies,” the DCI said.
