Gachagua Defends Himself from Impeachment Motion terms Allegations as “Malicious and Baseless “
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Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has come out strongly to defend himself against an impeachment motion filed by Hon. Mutuse Eckomas Mwengi, MP for Kibwezi West, which seeks his removal from office.
The motion, dated September 26, 2024, accuses Gachagua of acquiring wealth improperly, involvement in corruption, and misuse of office. In a comprehensive 25-page response, Gachagua denied all allegations, calling them baseless, malicious, and politically motivated.
Property Ownership Allegations: Inherited or Legally Purchased
The motion alleges that Deputy President Gachagua has illegally amassed properties worth over Kshs. 5.2 billion since assuming office. The properties in question include Olive Garden Hotel, Vipingo Beach Resort, and Queens Gate Serviced Apartments, among others.
Gachagua, however, dismissed these allegations, stating that most of the properties mentioned belonged to his late brother, Hon. James Nderitu Gachagua. According to Gachagua, he has no personal ownership of these assets and was merely an executor of his brother’s estate, tasked with managing and distributing the assets as per the will.
“The allegation that I own Olive Garden Hotel is completely false,” Gachagua stated. “The hotel belonged to my late brother, Hon. James Nderitu Gachagua, and I was named as one of the executors of his estate. Following his passing, the hotel was sold to a third party as per his will. I have never owned it.”
To support his claims, Gachagua attached copies of the sale agreement for Olive Garden Hotel, his brother’s will, and legal documentation showing the transfer of ownership to a third party in May 2023.
Similarly, Gachagua refuted claims that he owns Vipingo Beach Resort, clarifying that it too belonged to his late brother and remains part of his estate. “Vipingo Beach Resort is still registered under my late brother’s name and has never been mine,” Gachagua added. Official search documents for the property were provided as evidence.
Regarding Queens Gate Serviced Apartments, Gachagua explained that the property had been sold in 2022 to the Cooperative Bank of Kenya’s Staff Retirement Benefits Scheme, further disproving any allegations of ownership or impropriety.
Clarifications on Land Ownership
The motion also accuses Gachagua of acquiring large tracts of land improperly, including 40 acres in Nyeri County and 80 acres in Meru County. Gachagua confirmed that he does own the 40 acres in Nyeri, but clarified that he purchased the land legally in 2015 from Hon. Njoroge Wainaina, MP for Kieni Constituency, before becoming Deputy President.
“This land was purchased nearly a decade ago, long before I held public office,” Gachagua explained. “There is no evidence of any impropriety in the acquisition of this property.”
As for the land in Meru County, Gachagua refuted the claim that he owns 80 acres, confirming instead that he owns 29 acres, which he bought in February 2024 through a loan from Solution Sacco Limited. He provided copies of the sale agreement and loan documentation to substantiate this.
On allegations that he constructed a helicopter landing facility on his 2.5-acre property in Mathira East Constituency, Gachagua responded, “The land in Mathira is part of my dairy farm, where I have planted nappier grass for my cows. There is no helicopter landing facility, as alleged.” He included the purchase agreement for the property in his submission.
Companies Allegedly Involved in Money Laundering: Dormant or Charitable
One of the most damning accusations in the impeachment motion is the claim that Gachagua and his family members are involved in money laundering through 22 companies allegedly linked to him. The motion asserts that these companies have been used to hide proceeds of crime and corruption.
In his response, Gachagua categorically denied these accusations, detailing the operations—or lack thereof—of the companies in question. He emphasized that many of the companies listed were either dormant or engaged in non-profit activities, making the allegations baseless.
For instance, Gachagua noted that the Rigathi Gachagua Foundation and the Dorcas Rigathi Foundation are non-profit organizations focused on charity work. “These foundations were set up to assist the less privileged in society and have no involvement in any business dealings. Since their inception, they have received and utilized a total of Kshs. 12 million for charitable purposes,” he said.
He further clarified that many of the other companies had been inactive for years. Pioneer Medical (K) Limited, Delta Merchants Limited, and Biovet (K) Limited had not conducted any business for over a decade. “These companies have been dormant and cannot possibly be involved in any illicit activities as alleged,” he stated.
Gachagua also explained that some of the companies mentioned in the motion, such as Vipingo Beach Resort Limited and Grand Bypass Apartments Limited, are part of his late brother’s estate, and are managed by his sons on behalf of the family. “These companies are still under my brother’s estate, and I have no personal stake in them,” he affirmed.
Procurement Scandals and Public Funds Misuse: False Allegations
Gachagua also addressed allegations of involvement in procurement scandals, specifically regarding the tender for the supply of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) worth Kshs. 3.7 billion. The motion claims that Gachagua influenced the tender process to benefit Shobikaa Impex Private Limited, a company allegedly linked to him.
In his defense, Gachagua denied any involvement in the tender process, stating that Shobikaa Impex’s bid was unsuccessful. “The bid from Shobikaa Impex was deemed non-responsive by KEMSA because their tender security was not paginated. They did not win the contract, and I had no role in the tender process,” he explained.
He provided KEMSA’s official communication confirming that Shobikaa Impex was unsuccessful in their bid. Gachagua reiterated that neither he nor his family had any involvement in the company’s tender submission or subsequent proceedings.
The motion also accused Gachagua of misusing public funds for unnecessary renovations to his official residences in Karen and Mombasa. Gachagua, however, argued that the funds for the renovations were approved by the National Assembly and that he had no involvement in the procurement process.
“I had no role in selecting the company that handled the renovations. The contract was awarded to Agrobriq Investments Limited, a company I am not affiliated with, and I did not participate in any stage of the tender process,” Gachagua asserted.
Throughout his response, Gachagua maintained that the allegations were politically motivated and lacked any legal basis.
He emphasized that no investigative body, including the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) or the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), had approached him for questioning regarding the accusations.
“These are mere perceptions, not facts,” Gachagua stated. “The Constitution guarantees the presumption of innocence, and this motion falls far short of the legal threshold required for impeachment. I urge the National Assembly to consider the lack of evidence and dismiss this politically driven attempt to remove me from office.”
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