Kenya Kwanza running mate nominee Rigathi Gachagua‘s political bid has received a boost after an anti-corruption court adjourned the hearing of a corruption case against him until after the highly anticipated presidential election.
A section of Kenyans and especially those from the Azimio la Umoja had questioned Gachagu’s integrity saying he was unfit to vie for the deputy president seat in this year’s General Election calling him to defend his character before the polls.
The former personal assistant to President Uhuru Kenyatta was scheduled to officially commence his corruption case on Tuesday, May 17, but the lawmaker failed to attend the hearing because of the demise of his brother.
An anti-corruption Chief Magistrate Victor Wakumile fixed the hearing of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua’s KSh 7.3 billion corruption case to November 7, 2022.
Gachagua is facing six counts of conspiracy to commit economic crimes alongside William Mwangi, Anne Nduta, Julianne Jahenda, Samuel Murimi, Grace Wambui, Lawrence Kimaru, Irene Wambui, and David Nguru.
The MP is facing a graft case and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has applied to freeze some of his personal bank accounts at the Rafiki Micro-Finance Bank.
While appearing on Citizen TV interview just moments after his unveiling as the official Kenya Kwanza running mate, Gachagua said he was innocent, and the court was dragging a graft case facing him.
The MP accused the government of using the criminal justice system to intimidate leaders into supporting the handshake by President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
“The Kenyan constitution is very clear, that you can only be barred from political office when you have been convicted and you have exhausted the mechanisms offered by law for appeal,” Gachagua said.
