MP Rigathi Gachagua in shock as court blocks Sh. 200 million in account

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua has suffered another blow after a court blocked some Sh. 200 million in his account. This followed the successful petition by the State. The petition is seeking to have the funds forfeited to the national government.

Following the ruling, the MP’s accounts at Rafiki Micro Finance bank will remain frozen for a period of 90 days. Rigathi has three accounts at Rafiki Microfinance Bank under his name. A firm by the name Wamunyoro Investment has two accounts while the third is Technical Supplies and Services Kenya Limited.

In May this year, Milimani Court Senior Resident Magistrate Muthoni Nzibe barred MP Rigathi and five companies associated with him and his close allies from transacting with the accounts at Rafiki Microfinance Bank for seven days. The order was given to allow ARA to probe money laundering and graft claims against Rigathi Gachagua.

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua’s bank accounts frozen

According to a report that appeared in the Daily Nation, the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) claims that Mr Gachagua and Jenne Enterprises Limited were involved in a suspected complex scheme of money laundering.

“The funds emanated from the Ministry of Lands (Kenya Informal Settlements Programme), State Department for Special Planning, Ministry of Health, Bungoma County government, Mathira Constituency Development Fund, Nyeri County government and the National Irrigation Board. Justice John Onyiego of the Anti-Corruption Division of the High Court stopped the MP and Jenne Enterprises from dealing with or transferring the funds. The funds at Rafiki Micro Finance Bank are held in three accounts, with one holding Sh. 165 million, a second account holds Sh. 35 million while the other holds Sh. 773,228. All the three are registered in the name of MP Rigathi Gachagua. A fourth account, holding Sh. 1,138,142, is registered in the name of Jenne Enterprises. Documents filed in court showed that within seven years, the MP received Sh. 5.8 billion, which included funds from companies or business entities providing services to ministries, state agencies and county governments,” the report said.