Peter Kenneth Responds After Tony Gachoka Links Him, Murathe to Covid-19 Scandal

Combination image of Peter Kenneth and David Murathe
Combination image of Peter Kenneth and David Murathe
File

UPDATE August 23, 2020 18:00 P.M: Jubilee Party Vice-Chair David Murathe responded to claims by former KTN presenter Tony Gachoka linking him to the Covid-19 graft scandal at KEMSA.

Noting that Gachoka's own brother had been mentioned in the reporting around the investigations, Murathe claimed that Gachoka's statement was borne out of malice and envy.

"He is full of malice, envy against his brother's success and wants attention. We will not dignify him with any response. If he has any evidence, he knows where to take it," Murathe told Kenyans.co.ke.


Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth on Sunday, August 23 responded to sensational claims by former KTN presenter Tony Gachoka linking him and Jubilee Party Vice-Chair David Murathe to the Covid-19 graft scandal at KEMSA.

Gachoka had, in a series of tweets on August 23, claimed that Kenneth and Murathe orchestrated a procurement scheme in which Kenneth was to provide the funding. He claimed that Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe cancelled a Ksh4.5 billion tender floated by Murathe.

Gachoka went on to describe Murathe as the biggest liability to President Uhuru Kenyatta. The claims raised eyebrows as Murathe and Gachoka had long been perceived as political allies due to their support of the president and the handshake with ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Murathe was yet to respond to queries made by Kenyans.co.ke by the time of publication. A seemingly surprised Kenneth, however, told Kenyans.co.ke that the allegations were totally unfounded, further questioning why he was being dragged into Gachoka's battles.

Tony Gachoka interviews former Jubilee Vice-Chair David Murathe on the set of his Point Blank Show in April 2019
Tony Gachoka interviews former Jubilee Vice-Chair David Murathe on the set of his Point Blank Show in April 2019
YouTube

"When will Peter Kenneth who funded con-men to KEMSA ever speak out against the Covid-19 scandal?" Gachoka had posed.

Kenneth dismissed Gachoka's claim that he was linked to a bank that agreed to finance the shady deals.

"I do not do business with the government out of principle. I do not run a bank. He is saying I financed the deal and again saying it was cancelled? From what I have seen I am being dragged into his wars with other people," he asserted while speaking to this writer.

Linked with a Presidential bid in the 2022 General Election, Kenneth speculated that political machinations out to undermine him could be behind the allegations. 

He noted that he had only ever crossed paths with Gachoka when he was invited for an interview on his now-canceled Point Blank show.

Notably, Kenneth and Murathe both hail from Gatanga in Murang'a County. Kenneth defeated Murathe to replace him as the area MP in 2002. 

Kenneth reiterated that among his priorities in getting into politics and governance was to firmly deal with corruption in the country.

"You can check my statements (on corruption and the Covid-19 scandal). I even said it two weeks ago in an interview that for corruption to end in Kenya, it has to be made painful," he stated.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has promised speedy investigations into the scandal at KEMSA amidst mounting public pressure.

Public outrage was particularly fueled by an investigative report by NTV journalist Dennis Okari which laid bare the numerous questions on the expenditure of billions allocated for the fight against Covid-19.

File image of former Gatanga MP, Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant and Mayfair Group Founder, Peter Kenneth.
File image of former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth.
Twitter
  • . .