NAIROBI, Kenya – Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has vehemently denied accusations of corruption and fraudulent property acquisition, ahead of a critical impeachment debate scheduled for Tuesday in the National Assembly.
The motion, introduced by MP Mwengi Mutuse, seeks Gachagua’s removal from office, citing serious allegations of misconduct and improper enrichment.
During a press conference on Monday, Gachagua described the charges as “baseless propaganda” designed to tarnish his reputation and oust him from office.
He pledged to defend himself robustly before the National Assembly, dismissing the claims as politically motivated fabrications.
Central to the allegations is a list of properties, including the Olive Garden Hotel, Vipingo Beach Resort, Queens Gate Apartments, and Langata Highrise Flats, which Mutuse claims were acquired through corrupt means after Gachagua assumed office in 2022.
However, the deputy president explained that these assets were part of an inheritance from his late brother, James Nderitu Gachagua, who passed away in 2017.
“In his will, my late brother bequeathed his properties and assets, including the Olive Garden Hotel and Vipingo Beach Resort,” Gachagua said. “Mutuse’s claims that I acquired these properties after becoming deputy president are simply unfounded. The timeline doesn’t even align.”
The deputy president further elaborated that he, along with two others, was appointed as an executor of his brother’s estate, emphasizing that part of the funds in his account came from the sale of the Olive Garden Hotel, as outlined in the will.
Gachagua also addressed the resurfacing of an old controversy involving his son in a mosquito net tender scandal. He explained that the matter, which dates back eight years, involved Shobika Impex Limited, a company that had appointed Crystal Kenya as their local agent.
According to Gachagua, his son was only involved in contacting the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to inquire about a Ksh. 500 million bid bond, which had been seized by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) during an investigation.
Gachagua maintained that the EACC eventually dropped the case, and the bid bond was returned.
The deputy president also took issue with the recent public participation process on the impeachment motion, calling it a flawed exercise.
He argued that the legalistic language used in the documentation was inaccessible to most Kenyans, and his defense was notably absent from the materials presented for public scrutiny.
“The process was shoddy and did not allow for informed public engagement,” Gachagua said. “My response to the allegations was not included, leaving the public to assess incomplete information.”
As the impeachment debate looms, Gachagua has enlisted a legal team led by prominent lawyer Paul Mwite to fight the charges in Parliament.
Despite the mounting pressure, he remains defiant, describing the motion as “the most shameful act in the history of the House.”
With 291 lawmakers supporting the motion, the impeachment process has already progressed to public participation across the country’s 47 counties.
The motion, introduced by MP Mwengi Mutuse, seeks Gachagua’s removal from office, citing serious allegations of misconduct and improper enrichment.
During a press conference on Monday, Gachagua described the charges as “baseless propaganda” designed to tarnish his reputation and oust him from office.
He pledged to defend himself robustly before the National Assembly, dismissing the claims as politically motivated fabrications.
Central to the allegations is a list of properties, including the Olive Garden Hotel, Vipingo Beach Resort, Queens Gate Apartments, and Langata Highrise Flats, which Mutuse claims were acquired through corrupt means after Gachagua assumed office in 2022.
However, the deputy president explained that these assets were part of an inheritance from his late brother, James Nderitu Gachagua, who passed away in 2017.
“In his will, my late brother bequeathed his properties and assets, including the Olive Garden Hotel and Vipingo Beach Resort,” Gachagua said. “Mutuse’s claims that I acquired these properties after becoming deputy president are simply unfounded. The timeline doesn’t even align.”
The deputy president further elaborated that he, along with two others, was appointed as an executor of his brother’s estate, emphasizing that part of the funds in his account came from the sale of the Olive Garden Hotel, as outlined in the will.
Gachagua also addressed the resurfacing of an old controversy involving his son in a mosquito net tender scandal. He explained that the matter, which dates back eight years, involved Shobika Impex Limited, a company that had appointed Crystal Kenya as their local agent.
According to Gachagua, his son was only involved in contacting the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to inquire about a Ksh. 500 million bid bond, which had been seized by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) during an investigation.
Gachagua maintained that the EACC eventually dropped the case, and the bid bond was returned.
The deputy president also took issue with the recent public participation process on the impeachment motion, calling it a flawed exercise.
He argued that the legalistic language used in the documentation was inaccessible to most Kenyans, and his defense was notably absent from the materials presented for public scrutiny.
“The process was shoddy and did not allow for informed public engagement,” Gachagua said. “My response to the allegations was not included, leaving the public to assess incomplete information.”
As the impeachment debate looms, Gachagua has enlisted a legal team led by prominent lawyer Paul Mwite to fight the charges in Parliament.
Despite the mounting pressure, he remains defiant, describing the motion as “the most shameful act in the history of the House.”
With 291 lawmakers supporting the motion, the impeachment process has already progressed to public participation across the country’s 47 counties.
