MP Rigathi Gachagua Arrested Over Alleged Ksh12.5 Billion Tender Scam

Mathira Member of Parliament Rigathi Gachagua has been arrested over alleged embezzlement of Ksh12.5 billion public funds.

The MP was arrested on Monday by officers from the Serious Crime Unit and taken to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters on Kiambu Road in Nairobi County for grilling.

The MP recently had his bank accounts frozen as detectives probed the source of the billions that passed through his accounts.

Three of the accounts frozen by the Asset Recovery Agency holds Ksh202 million, Ksh165 million and Ksh35 million. Two others had Ksh1.1 million and Ksh700,000.

He is alleged to have used proxies to fraudulently secure tenders using 22 companies with him as the sole beneficiary.

Read: Ksh5 Billion In MP Rigathi Gachagua’s Accounts ‘Mysteriously’ Goes ‘Missing’

Detectives probing the matter are said to have visited at least five counties, government parastatals and his own National Government Constituency Development Fund where he is suspected to have fraudulently won tenders using 22 companies.

Charges prefered against the lawmaker, according to the DCI, include abuse of office, conflict of interest, conspiracy to commit crime and money laundering.

The MP allied to Deputy President William Ruto has in the past denied allegations leveled against him terming it a political witch hunt.

Read Also:MP Rigathi Gachagua Claims State Froze His Bank Accounts Over Links With Ruto

“This is witch-hunt and a scheme meant to harass me because of my political stand… We cannot criminalise enterprise. We cannot criminalise hardwork. I have been in business for the last 20 years since I left the civil service. It is only natural that I have some little money,” added the MP.

The MP is a renowned businessman and was once President Uhuru Kenyatta’s aide during his 2002 presidential bid.

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