Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been forced to clarify claims that he amassed wealth totalling Ksh 5.2 billion just two years after assuming office.
The impeachment motion, filed by Kibwezi West MP Mutuse Mwengi on Tuesday, October 1, alleged that the DP acquired his wealth through money laundering, economic crimes, and gross misconduct, including using family members as proxies for illicit acquisitions.
However, in a presser on Monday, October 7, Gachagua broke down his wealth which partly includes inheritance from his late brother, former Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua.
Gachagua also mentioned that he was the executor of his brother's will alongside Mwai Mathenge and lawyer Njoroge Regeru.
In the will, the DP explained, Nderitu divided his properties, assets and cash amongst their family.
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"In the will, he did put his properties and assets and cash and anything that he owned in this world. Among the things that he put was the Olive Garden Hotel, Vipingo Beach Resort, The Queens Gate Apartment and Langata Highrise Flats," he said.
Gachagua took issue with Mutuse who alleged in his motion that the properties are among those that he acquired them after becoming deputy president.
"It is these 4 properties that Mutuse alleges in the National Assembly that Rigathi Gachagua has acquired them after becoming DP in 2022 when Nderitu Gachagua died in 2017. It is the most embarrassing allegation an MP can table before the National Assembly.
"How unfair, how cruel can you be to a dead man? My dear brother rest in peace and forgive me for having joined politics because were it not for politics, you would not suffer this shame," he stated.
Gachagua went ahead to break down how the family distributed the properties, noting that Nderitu had instructed that all his properties be sold and divide the proceeds among his brothers, sisters, wives and children.
As such, Gachagua said they sold the Olive Garden Hotel for Ksh 412 million and divided the proceeds as directed in the will.
"My late brother, in his wisdom, left Rigathi Gachagua 5% of his wealth. I was therefore able to get Ksh 20 million from this sale. That is money that is in my account that again I'm told are proceeds of crime," he said.
Gachagua also noted that he kept an additional Ksh 36 million which made up 5% left for their mother and 4% the DP was left to hold in the trust of the children of his other late brother, Dr. Fred Wachira Gachagua.
From the sale of the hotel, the DP also noted that his wife, Dorcas, was given 2% for taking care of Nderitu when he was ailing.
Gachagua disclosed that the family sold The Queens Gate Apartment to the Co-operative Bank Staff Retirement Benefits for nearly Ksh 600 million and used to clear debt owned by Nderitu prior to his death.
On Vipingo Beach Resort, the DP stated that it was Nderitu's holiday home, and they chose not to sell the hotel to keep his memory alive.
"I remember with nostalgia that he used to host us there every Christmas to enjoy ourselves. This property still belongs to the estate of the deceased because as a family you want to retain it for sentimental value so that when you visit there we remember him and his kindness," he said.
Gachagua also dismissed claims that he owns a helicopter landing facility on his piece of land in Kiamariga, Ruguru, Mathira West, clarifying that he has planted nappier grass on the two-acre land.
He stated that he got the piece of land for Ksh 3.5 million shillings, money which he got from his dairy farm where he rears more than 150 dairy cows. Gachagua stated that be makes Ksh 1.5 million monthly from the dairy farm.
The DP also addressed his ownership of a 35-acres piece of land in Kakuret, Kieni, stating that the bought it from the current area MP, Njoroge Wainaina, in 2015.
Further, Gachagua dismissed claims that he bought 80 acres of land in Meru, stating that he owns 29 acres only, which he acquired after securing a loan from Solutions Sacco where he is a member.
The DP also clarified that he does not own a dairy farm in Nyandarua, however, saying that he has land in Shamata which he is yet to develop.
On his companies, Gachagua took ownership of Rigathi Gachagua Foundation which he says was set up to help children from needy backgrounds.
