Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua does not own Sh 5.2B company, Lawyer Danstan Omari reveals

BY CLAUSE MASIKA

Debate, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has denied accusations linking him to companies used to amass wealth of Sh5.2 billion.

This wealth is the main reason behind his pending impeachment. Kibwenzi West MP Mwengi Mutuse has claimed that Gachagua’s property portfolio likely comes from corruption and money laundering. Mutuse argues that Gachagua’s wealth is inconsistent with his known legitimate income of Sh12 million per year.

He listed 22 companies that he claims Gachagua used to gain this wealth, with Morani Manufacturers Limited being the primary company named.

Gachagua’s lawyer, Danstan Omari, stated that he has provided evidence to Parliament. This evidence includes CR12 documents, which confirm the company’s directors since it was founded. Omari explained that Morani Manufacturers Limited belonged to former police reservist Joshua Waiganjo and has not been actively trading. Waiganjo joined Omari at the Milimani law courts, where they stated that Gachagua has not used the company for any significant transactions since becoming Deputy President

Omari provided details about a transaction where the company sold 70 kilograms of poultry feed, for which they were paid Sh132,000. He noted that the company currently has only Sh2,232 in its account, contradicting claims that Gachagua has used it to facilitate a much larger sum of Sh12 billion. Omari also expressed that the impeachment motion appears to be an emotional attack aimed at Gachagua’s wife, Dorcas, and their children.

He emphasized that under former President Uhuru Kenyatta, families of political leaders were not targeted in such matters. Omari plans to petition the court to remove Dorcas and their children’s names from the impeachment records, stating that they are not political figures and should not be involved in political disputes.

“The family should be protected from political attacks,” Omari declared. He mentioned that family members of political leaders deserve constitutional protection under Article 45, which safeguards the family unit.

This situation has created significant tension as the public participation process on Gachagua’s impeachment continues nationwide, with protests occurring in various locations. The court has yet to halt the impeachment process, setting the stage for further developments in this ongoing political drama.