Ksh.7.4B graft case against DP Gachagua adjourned

The court has adjourned the Ksh.7.4 billion graft case against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and others following an application that seeks to review the matter.

This is after the court was told Gachagua has written a letter to the ODPP to have his case reviewed.

The case was listed for hearing for three days but the accused persons did not appear in person before the court on Monday morning.

However, his lawyers told the court that they were not aware whether the case was to be heard online or in person.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution has asked the court to give it more time to review case, noting that it had received number of letters seeking review.

The former Mathira MP is accused of  fraudulently acquiring Ksh.7.4 billion as proceeds of crime between 2013 and 2020 through business dealings in the government.

He is facing six counts  among them conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, fraudulent acquisition of public property, conflict of interest, money laundering and acquisition of proceeds of crime.

Gachagua is charges alongside  former Mathira CDF manager William Mwangi Wahome, Ann Nduta Ruo, Jullianne Jahenda Makaa and Samuel Murimi Ireri, Grace Wambui Kariuki, Lawrence Kimaru, Irene Wambui Ndigiriri, David Reuben Nyangi Nguru and Rapid Medical Supplies Ltd.

The nine are jointly charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption by allegedly defrauding the Nyeri County Government of Ksh.27.4 million for supply of dialysis machines to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital.

Just last month, the case failed to take off following filing of a petition at the Supreme Court by Azimio-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga, challenging the victory of President William Ruto and Gachagua.

The case was among those affected by the petition after the Judiciary closed Milimani Law Courts from August 26 to pave the way for the apex court judges to conduct the hearing and determination of the dispute.

The court has now vacated the hearing dates for Monday and Tuesday and directed that the matter be heard on November 21 this year.