Rigathi Gachagua | The Spotlight Post

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential running mate, Rigathi Gachagua, has continued his bare-knuckled attacks on Interior Principal Secretary, Karanja Kibicho.

Speaking during a rally in Nanyuki, Laikipia county, on Friday, August 5, Gachagua accused Kibicho of targeting the youth in Mount Kenya in a new plot to undermine Deputy William Ruto’s vote in the region.

Gachagua alleged that the PS intended to ensure an endless supply of alcohol in the region in the days leading to the election to compromise the voter turnout.

“You own the majority of depots in the region and have instructed the police to ensure a 24-hour supply of alcohol so that our youth are not sober,”
Gachagua alleged.

The Mathira Member of Parliament publicly turned down an invitation by Kibicho to have a sit down so as to iron out their differences, which have in the past days, resulted in open verbal altercations.

Gachagua maintained that his reservations on the PS were based on his engagement in raw deals at the detriment of the people of Mount Kenya.

“I saw you requesting to have a discussion with me on the allegations over a drink, I am a teetotaler, I do not take alcohol. Kibicho, you sabotaged the region’s economy.

“You ensured that you chased all of us who supported the president including William Ruto, Aden Duale, Kipchumba Murkomen, Kimani Ichung’wah and replaced them with drunkards like David Murathe and Francis Atwoli and that is why the economy has deteriorated,”
he alleged.

His claims come against UDA’s allegations that the PS and Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang’i, were using state officers to incite communities in the Rift Valley and buy identification cards.

However, Kibicho has not taken the jabs thrown by Gachagua lying down and clapped back at the DP hopeful, terming him not only a sick man but also a pathological liar.

“He needs a doctor because of the lies coming out of him, he does not look like a normal person. It is on record Gachagua worked in Molo but cannot remember because he is sick,”
he stated.

The PS added that the lawmaker was fired because of absenteeism and the desertion of duty and mismanagement of relief food, allegations he claims to have evidence on.

The Kenya Kwanza running mate and Mathira Member of Parliament Rigathi Gachagua moved to Court on Tuesday, August 2, to challenge a verdict ordering him to forfeit Ksh202 million.

Through his lawyer Kioko Kilukumi, Gachagua filed a petition at the Court of Appeal to block the Asset and Recovery Agency (ARA) from reclaiming the funds.

The money is said to be in his two bank accounts which he argued were acquired legally and not via corruption means as earlier ruled by the High Court.

The first time-MP argued the court did not give him enough time to explain source of his funds, a decision he described as a blatant attempt to curtail Kenya Kwanza’s bid to ascend to the presidency in the upcoming August 9 poll.

Gachagua was ordered to forfeit the funds by Justice Esther Maina of Anti-Corruption division of the High Court on July 28.

This was after ARA convinced the court that he acquired the money from government agencies without supplying any goods or services and therefore was a beneficiary of proceeds of corruption.

“The court finds that the funds are liable to forfeiture as the Assets Recovery Authority (ARA) has discharged its burden of proof that the funds were received by Gachagua,”
Justice Maina ruled.

Justice Maina ruled that ARA had proven beyond doubt that Gachagua and his associates engaged in corrupt practices and acquired the millions, which they could not explain.

The vocal lawmaker previously claimed that the decision was political witch hunt after he outsmarted his Azimio presidential running mate, Martha Karua in the deputy presidential debate held on July 19.

“Mr Gachagua being dissatisfied with the decision of High Court Judge Esther Maina delivered on Thursday last week intends to appeal to the Court of Appeal against the whole decision,”
said Kilukumi.

“The judgment was hastily rushed ten days before the elections in a futile attempt to undermine my candidature in the coming elections and dent my sterling performance in the running mates debate last week,”
the Mathira MP stated.

Gachagua’s appeal comes against the backdrop of an intensified political rallies from both coalitions, Kenya Kwanza and Azimio La Umoja as the campaign period hits fever pitch ahead of the August 9 poll.