I Have Never Seen a Billion Shillings in My Life, MP Rigathi Gachagua Says After Arrest

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua has spoken out following his arrest over the alleged multi-billion-shilling tender scam.

Gachagua was picked by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Monday for questioning.

He is alleged to have fraudulently received Sh12.5 billion through three accounts in Rafiki Micro Finance Bank between 2013 and 2020.

The funds were allegedly received from the Ministry of Lands (Kenya Informal Settlements Program), State Department for Special Planning, Ministry of Health, Bungoma County government, Mathira Constituency Development Fund, Nyeri County government, and the National Irrigation Board and are suspected to be proceeds of crime.  

Taking to social media after he was grilled at DCI headquarters, the MP claimed the investigation against him was politically instigated, adding that he does clean business and has never touched a billion shillings in his life.

“On reaching there (DCI headquarters) I was told that I was under investigation for dealing with KSh12.4 billion in seven years. I told them that I have never seen a billion shillings in my lifetime leave alone in the seven years that they are saying. I have always involved myself in clean business,” Gachagua wrote on Facebook.

Gachagua further linked his arrest to President Kenyatta’s recent tour to his constituency where residents are said to have boycotted his meeting.

“I cannot be blamed for poor mobilization in a meeting that I was not involved in planning. Any meeting in Mathira without the involvement of elected leaders will fail. Let them blame Wakahiu and the two MPs not me,” Gachagua added.

The first-time MP also challenged the DCI to prepare charges against him and arraign him in court.