Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua fraudulently received Ksh.7,330,011,265 through three bank accounts at Rafiki Micro-Finance bank, between 2013 and 2020, some for supplying non-existent equipment to the counties while others to launder monies from proceeds of crime.
The legislator who spent a weekend in police custody after being arrested by detectives on Friday in Mathira was presented before Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi who charged him with conspiracy to commit an offense of corruption, fraudulent acquisition of public property, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime and conflict of interest.
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Others charged alongside the MP but were not present in court are William Wahome Mwangi, Anne Nduta Ruo, Julianne Jahenda Makaa, Samuel Murimi, Grace Wambui Kariuki, Lawrence Kimaru, Irene Wambui Ndigiriri, David Reuben, and a company M/s Rapid Medical Supplies. For example, the court charged the MP with conspiracy to defraud the County Government of Nyeri of Ksh 27, 493,860 purportedly for the supply of dialysis machines to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital.
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Mr. Gachagua pleaded not guilty and has been freed on a cash bail of Ksh.12 million or an alternative of Ksh.25 million bond, with the court further directing the MP to surrender his passport and should not contact any of the witnesses.
