Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua has confessed to handing money during a meeting with journalists in Karatina as seen in a video that was shared on June 8, 2020.
According to a statement from the MP seen by Kenyans.co.ke, he admitted to hosting his friends from the media and one of them introduced him to his wife, after which Rigathi offered his family money.
“My generosity is known in Mathira in addition to the respect I have for the family unit,” he explained.
The lawmaker appealed to Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji to investigate a video of the meeting which was taken and edited to include false information.
He stated that the suspect, who is well known to him had superimposed a fake voice onto the real video. The fake voice was explaining that the money handed to the journalist’s family was meant to recruit protestors for demonstration in the town.
“This man, who claims he works for a famous family, thereafter lied to the police that a massive demonstration had been organized in Karatina Town. As a result over 200 policemen in riot gear were mobilised from the entire Nyeri County to deal with the ghost demonstration,” Rigathi explained.
“People in Mathira Constituency, including primary school children, know my voice. I am also a Christian who is very civil in language use and I do not use vulgar language,” he added.
The decision to escalate the matter to DPP Haji was fueled by inaction by the Karatina Director of Criminal Investigations office.
“I have today morning (June 10) lodged a formal complaint at Karatina Police Station over a fake video that has been in circulation alleging that I had given out money in order to plan violence and demonstrations in Karatina.
“The DCIO has declined to record my statement claiming that the investigations will be handled in Nairobi, this does not make sense given that the crime was committed in his area of jurisdiction and not in Nairobi,”
“I am now appealing to the Director of Public Prosecution to order for speedy and thorough investigations to have the culprit apprehended for computer misuse and cybercrimes, giving false information to public officials and criminal libel against my person,” he urged.
The MP also asked the county security team to relax surveillance on his constituency since the protests were fake.
