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DP Gachagua Reveals Why Ruto Gov’t Can’t Deal With ‘Washwash’ And Conmen

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has said the William Ruto-led government cannot deal with money launders and other fraudsters conning unsuspecting Kenyans.

Speaking in Uasin Gishu county on Saturday, December 2, on the sidelines of the inaugural Great Chepsaita Cross Country run, DP Gachagua said the government cannot offer any help on money laundering and other frauds.

Instead, the second in command advised Kenyans to exercise extra caution to avoid being conned.

He stated that the country is unable to come up with any legislation to cushion Kenyans against the rackets that perpetrate the frauds.

“Hatuwezi kutengeneza sheria ya kuondoa ‘washwash’ na conmen, ni watu wajichunge na wajue kwamba yote amabayo inapatikana kwa urahisi si kweli (Loosely translates to We can’t come up with laws to deal with ‘wash wash’ and conmen, it is for Kenyans to be careful. They ought to know that nothing good comes easy),” DP Gachagua stated

He added that Kenyans should work hard for their success and avoid falling for get-rich-quick schemes which the fraudsters operate behind.

“We want to ask our people to be careful with those who take advantage of them. When they come to cheat you they will double your money, why can’t they triple theirs?” he added.

In September this year, President William Ruto signed the Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting of Terrorism Financing Laws Amendment Bill, 2023.

The bill would amend the Extradition (Contiguous and Foreign Countries) Act (Cap 76) and the Extradition (Commonwealth Countries) Act (Cap. 77) to allow the surrender of a fugitive criminal who consents to be extradited to a requesting State.

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Politics

Ruto, DP Gachagua Meet 32 Jubilee Mps at State House Hours After Raiding ODM

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

President William Ruto and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua Wednesday morning held a meeting with 32 Mps from Jubilee Party at State House, Nairobi.

Reports indicate that the meeting that kicked off at 8am has been attended by Jubilee members from both the National Assembly and Senate.

The Jubilee MPs have committed to work with the government.

Speaking during the meeting, President Ruto said his government was ready to work with anyone despite the political divide.

Ruto told the MPs that they were a family as they all were elected by Kenyans.

The notable politicians who met the president included Nominated MPs Sabina Chege, Margaret Kamar, MPs Yusuf Hassan (Kamukunji) and Adan Keynan (Eldas). 

The meeting comes hours after the head of state met a section of Raila Odinga’s ODM MPs on Tuesday.

Among them were Phelix Odiwour – Jalang’o – (Lang’ata), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Tom Ojienda (Kisumu), Shakeel Shabir (Independent – Kisumu Town East) and Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo).

The head of state has been on a charm offensive on the opposition side if the series of meetings with members of the Azimio coalition is anything to go by. 

During his meeting with the nine ODM MPs from the Nyanza region, Ruto affirmed that the aim is to foster unity among the leaders to solve the challenges facing Kenyans. 

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Politics

Ruto Finally Unveils His Running Mate After 17-Hour Crisis Meeting

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party leader Deputy President William Ruto who is Kenya Kwanza alliance presidential flag bearer has finally unveiled his running mate choice.

This is after the DP and his allies convened a meeting at his official Karen residence on Saturday, May 14, 2022, which lasted 17 hours.

Addressing the press on Sunday, May 15, 2022, at his Karen residence, Ruto said that after the successful meeting, they agreed to settle on Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua.

Gachagua's Demands & Intrigues Delaying Ruto Running Mate Naming - Kenyans.co.ke

Ruto thanked Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, his Kandara counterpart Alice Wahome and speaker Justin Muturi, and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru whom Ruto said missed the running post by a whiskerfor making it to the final shortlist, saying that they will work together to strengthen his government.

Kithure Kindiki was in the runners up position.

The meeting had on Saturday failed to reach an agreement on who was best suited to become Dr. Ruto’s running mate choice, between Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua and Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki.

Ruto’s presidential secretariat spokesperson Hussein Mohamed addressed the media from Ruto’s Karen residence at midnight and assured members of the press that the running mate choice will be unveiled on Sunday May 15, 2022.

Ruto was set to unveil its running mate Saturday, ended holding a crisis meeting with his top strategists until midnight, with journalists waiting outside at his Karen official residence.

Gachagua or Kindiki: Ruto to unveil running mate

He had been expected to make the announcement at 11am, but it was later changed to 1pm, 3pm. But it did not happen.

Sources indicate that Ruto was all set to name Tharaka Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki as his running mate until Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua insisted it must be him.

In Mt Kenya, supporters of Gachagua in Mathira held demonstrations in town insisting that he must be named to deputise Ruto in the presidential election set for August 9.

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Politics

Rigathi Gachagua Tears Into Mount Kenya Tycoons Days After They Met Raila

by Yahil Felix
written by Yahil Felix

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua has torn into Mt. Kenya tycoons days after ODM leader Raila Odinga met them in a bid to seek support in the region.

According to Gachagua, the tycoons who met and endorsed Raila for the presidency are only interested in securing their wealth and creating more in future.

The Deputy President William Ruto ally sought to disapprove the claims by the billionaires that they are out to fight for the interests of Mt. Kenya residents.

” Those rich men do not care about the issues affecting Mt. Kenya residents, they are only interested with protecting their wealth and making more in the next government,” said Gachagua.

The politician while speaking at an event held at DP Ruto’s residence in Karen recalled various instances where the tycoons kept mum as the government suppressed Mt. Kenya locals.

“When our people were evicted from Nyamakima, they dd not meet to address the issue. They also failed to make donations to the displaced persons in Laikipia when the skirmishes broke out. They didn’t even help our people with PEPs during the COVID-19 period, yet they have the wherewithal to purchase face marks for everyone in the region,” he added.

The legislator further added that the Mt. Kenya Foundation have for a long time spread their risks and are not trusting. He said that the foundation financed both former President Mwai Kibaki and his opponent President Uhuru Kenyatta’s campaigns in 2002.

According to Gachagua, financing rivals by the foundation showed that they have no stand and are only interested in securing their wealth and investment opportunities.

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Ruto with Waiguru
Politics

Rigathi Gachagua Sends Stern Warning To Waiguru Over Joining UDA

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua has warned Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru over her decision to ditch President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee party for Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

According to Gachagua, UDA is the party that has been chosen by Mt. Kenya people.

The embattled lawmaker now warns that should Waiguru continue ignoring Kirinyaga residents’ party of choice, she risks facing the wrath of the people which he says is more ruthless and long term than State persecution.

Gachagua went ahead to warn that Waiguru will lose her gubernatorial seat in 2022 should she fail to honour residents’ call for her to join UDA.

The warning comes just days after the Krinyaga county chief hinted at decamping the Uhuru camp for the DP Ruto’s hustler nation.

“We applaud Governor Waiguru for the courage, I know they will pester her here and there. But it is better for her to be pestered by police than be punished by citizens. You know the citizens’ punishment is legal it has no appeal once they are done with you it is five years, but this thing of being apprehended on Monday, Friday is a simple thing,” Rigathi told Waiguru.

The Mathira MP who once served as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s personal assistance further extended the welcoming arm to other Jubilee members stating that UDA’s window is wide open for them.

“UDA is a very popular party here and we want to say that all those who are coming are welcome, our party is very democratic, very wide and we will accommodate everybody,” he remarked.

Waiguru’s hint at joining UDA has ignited political rivalry in the region. Kirinyaga County Woman Representative Purity Ngirici is among the closest allies of Ruto who are seeking to battle it out with Waiguru.

Ngirici has already made her bid and has been on several campaign trails to popularise herself to the Kirinyaga electorates.

On her part, Ngirici has maintained that she is ready to face Waiguru in a fair UDA nomination if she makes real her decision to ditch the Jubilee party.

Apart from Ngirici, NARC-Kenya party leader Martha Karua is also in the race to try and unseat Waiguru. Karua has also made it bold that she will be taking her second stab at the Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat after losing in the 2017  General election even after staging several court cases.

Waiguru had earlier admitted that she would lose the Kirinyaga seat if she risked defending it on a Jubilee party ticket.

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Cate Waruguru with Ruto
Politics

Tangatanga Cry Foul As Mt Kenya Churches Block Ruto From Sunday Service At Last Minute

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Deputy President William Ruto’s allies are crying foul after at least two churches from Mt Kenya region blocked their boss from attending church service that had already been scheduled.

The DP Ruto’s allies who are advocating for his 2022 presidency are now accusing the State of blocking his planned visit to Kieni.

This after the two churches he was scheduled to attend service in cancelled his events. 

DP Ruto, who is currently holding meetings with a section of Mt Kenya leaders, was scheduled to attend service in Mbiriri, Nyeri County on Sunday September 5, but at least two churches have pulled the plug on the events at the last minute.

His weekend itinerary was supposed to culminate in a Sunday service at PCEA Mbiriri but the leadership withdrew the invitation.

The DP’s allies claim that Kieni MP Kanini Kega was behind the withdrawal of the invitation.

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua accused Mr Kega of sabotaging the itinerary.

“Let me advise my good friend that when people offer help to his constituents he should not block it. We are aware he is trying to use the police to block the DP but he will come anyway,” Mr Gachagua said.

Following the withdrawal by PCEA and at least one more church, the DP is said to have settled on Full Gospel Church, still in Mbiriri, where he will worship alongside a battery of other politicians.

At least 45 MPs from Mt Kenya and Nairobi have been holding meetings at the Aberdare Prestige and Royal Cottages in Kieni East.

They endorsed DP Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid and agreed to use the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party to seek elective posts in the next general election.

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Politics

“Grow Up!” PS Kibicho Deconstructs Ruto Man Rigathi Gachagua On Live TV

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho has torn into Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua over what he claimed as peddling lies.

Kibicho who was speaking during a televised interview on Wednesday night also told the lawmaker to cease from dragging him and the interior CS Fred Matiang’i into his woes.

According to Kibicho, Gachagua who is allied to Deputy President William Ruto was using the PS and CS Matiang’i as decoys and scapegoats in the case. 

Gachagua who served as Molo District Officer in the late President Daniel Arap Moi’s government was blamed for insinuating that the Interior Ministry was on a witch-hunt of DP Ruto’s allies. 

“Gachagua is an old DO who used rungus during their regime. He has forgotten that when we changed the Constitution, everyone was poised to be accountable for their actions,” stated Kibicho.  

“He keeps thinking that the recklessness continued. I want to tell him that it stopped. He needs to grow up and stop being reckless. He has issues with his own people of Nyeri who stated that he embezzled funds. Let him deal with that and desist from dragging Kibicho and CS Matiang’i in it.”

He, however, declared that no action would be taken against the MP as the Ministry had decided to avoid being dragged into the affair. 

“That is what he is looking for. We will not engage him even as he keeps telling lies on TV,” the PS added. 

Ruto’s allies were accused of creating tension in the country in an attempt to allegedly appease their master. Kibicho claimed that the MPs at times rushed to the DP with fake news and lies on how the police were planning to threaten or assassinate them. 

Kibicho dubbed these politicians as reckless as they seize any advantage to push the DP to find relevance in their allegations. 

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Politics

Rigathi Gachagua- I Used Millions To Fund Uhuru’s Campaigns In 2013 & 2017

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that he spent millions of money to fund President Uhuru Kenyatta‘s presidential campaigns during the 2013 and 2017 general elections.

Gahagua who spoke during an interview on Monday August 2 alleged that it is President Kenyatta who approached him in 2012 to ask for the funding.

He went further to claim that he is the one who funded Uhuru’s campaigns in the entire Nyeri county during the 2017 October repeat polls.

Without revealing the exact amount he spent, the lawmaker noted that he acquired campaign cars, erected billboards, mobilized people to campaign for the re-election of President Uhuru.

He stated that he offered to sponsor Uhuru and his Deputy William Ruto‘s campaigns as a friend.

“In 2013, Uhuru came to me and I asked me to fund to his campaigns and nobody had an issue with me. I gave money to him as a friend. In 2017 during the repeat Presidential elections,  I told DP Ruto and Uhuru and leave Nyeri for me, where I used my money. I used millions to get cars, I erected billboards and mobilized people to run the campaigns,” he argued.

Gachagua earlier worked as Uhuru’s Personal Assistant in 2002 after the current President plucked him from the business world. 

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Crime & Investigations

How Rigathi Gachagua Raised Kshs.12 Million In Just 3 Hours To Secure Release

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua on Monday July 26, 2021 secured his release from police custody after managing to raise the hefty cash bail that he was granted after spending the weekend behind bars.

Gachagua appeared before Milimani chief magistrate Lawrence Mugambi on Monday secured his release after paying Sh12 million bail granted by an anti-corruption court in a Sh7.4 billion graft case.

The lawmaker is said to have fraudulently received a sum of Sh7 billion through three different bank accounts in his name at Rafiki Micro-finance Bank. He received the property between 2013 and 2020 in Nairobi while knowing that it formed part of the proceeds of crimes.

Gachagua was arrested at 3am in his Nyeri home on Friday, and faced six counts of economic crimes, including conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, money laundering, and fraudulent acquisition of public property.

After being released, the lawmaker took to his official social media accounts to reveal how he managed to raise the hefty cash bail in just three hours. He  expressed gratitude to his friends who helped him raise the cash.

“I thank God that I am finally at home with my family after facing trumped up charges by the DCI on orders from State House… I thank all the friends who helped me raise the hefty cash bail in a record three hours,” Rigathi stated.

In addition, Rigathi expressed gratitude to his wife and children, his lawyers and Deputy President William Ruto for the support they accorded him.

Rigathi stated that police officers at the DCI headquarters and Gigiri Police Station had treated him with respect and dignity and were professional in discharging their duties.

During his appearance in court, Gachagua was flanked by members of the Tangatanga wing of the ruling Jubilee Party, among them Kimani Ichung’wa, Irungu Kang’ata, Alice Wahome, Kipchumba Murkomen, Nixon Korir, Aaron Cheruiyot and Gladys Boss Shollei.

Gachagua is accused alongside William Wahome, Anne Ruo, Julianne Makaa, Samuel Ireri, Grace Wambui, Lawrence Kimaru, Irene Wambui, David Nyangi and M/S Rapid Medical Supplies Limited.

They are accused of conspiring to defraud the Nyeri county government of Sh27 million between May 2015 and December 2016. His co-accused persons were, however, not present in court. Gachagua denied any wrongdoing.

In respect of the fraudulent acquisition of public property, it is alleged Gachagua, Nyangi, and Rapid Supplies Ltd fraudulently acquired public property at Sh6 million. The money was part of a payment purportedly for the supply of dialysis machines to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital.

Gachagua further faced two counts of money laundering. He denied indirectly receiving Sh104 million from Bungoma county government and engaging in transactions to conceal the movement of the cash even with the knowledge that it was proceeds of crime.

He also allegedly indirectly received Sh7.5 million from the Kwale government between September 2015 and September 2016 in Nairobi with others not before court.

The court ordered the accused persons to appear before the court on August 3, 2021. A pre-trial was also scheduled for August 9.

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Crime & Investigations

Rigathi Gachagua Released On Kshs.12 Million Cash Bail In Graft Case

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua was on Monday July 26, 2021 released on a Kshs.12 million cash bail in a graft case facing him, with an alternative Sh25 million bond or a surety of the similar amount.

Gachagua is facing six counts, including conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, fraudulent acquisition of property and money laundering.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi at the Milimani Law Courts, Gachagua denied the graft charges read out to him.

He to deposit his passport with the court and not to contact or interfere with witnesses.

Gachagua who spent the weekend behind bars after being arrested on Friday was represented by lawyers Kioko Kilukumi, Alice Wahome, GladysSholei, Kipchumba Murkomen, Sylvanus Osoro, Irungu Kangata, Gibson Kimani, Wyclife Nyabuto, Amos Kisiwi and Paul Gacheru.

The lawmaker is being accused together with William Mwangi, Anne Ruo, Julianne Makaa, Samuel Ireri, Grace Kariuki, Lawrence Kimaru, Irene Ndigiriri, David Nguru and M/S Rapid Medical Supplies Ltd.

Earlier, Kilukumi asked that Rigathi be admitted to reasonable bail terms, adding that the values quoted in the charge sheet are not determinate on the bail the court should consider.

He also asked the court to consider the accused was arrested on Friday at 3am at his rural home in Nyeri.

Kilukumi urged the court to discourage the aspect of citizens being arrested on a Friday. The case will be mentioned on August 9.

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Politics

State Machinery Deployed to Propel Raila to State House, MP Claims

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A Tanga Tanga Member of Parliament has claimed that there are people in government who have been deployed to propel ODM party leader Raila Odinga to State House come 2022.

Speking on Tuesday at Kiarithaini village within his constituency during the burial of businessman Robert Kabiru, the Mathira lawmaker Rigathi Gachagua said Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) rallies had been turned into platforms to advance Odinga’s political ambitions.

“These BBI rallies have been turned into platforms for Raila campaigns. It is no longer about building bridges but destroying them. Raila has succeeded in hijacking our agenda as the Jubilee Party,” said Gachagua.

He cautioned residents of Mt Kenya region will not buy the trick and will resist any attempt to force a Raila presidency.

Gachagua said the region was only keen on a BBI outcome which will guarantee them minimum prices on tea and coffee.

He faulted National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi’s proposals for the abolition of the popular vote and its replacement with a party-list proportional representation system.

“I don’t agree with my Speaker on his observation that we should embrace party-based polls where the party that wins names president and his deputy. This cannot happen in Kenya where electorate have constitutional mandate to choose who they want as their leaders,” said Gachagua.

He also urged the government scale up security for Deputy President William Ruto in the wake of his claims that he is being targeted for elimination by unnamed people in government.

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