Mathira Member of Parliament Rigathi Gachagua was arrested at his Nyeri home on Friday morning, July, 23.
Gachagua was arrested in the early morning raid by officers drawn from the office of the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI).
Sources revealed to Kenyans.co.ke that a convoy of 50 cars made way into Gachagua's compound and took him in one of the cars but could not exactly establish where he was being taken to.
Through his social media page, Gachagua confirmed his arrest claiming it's over money laundering claims. He added that he is being taken to Nairobi where allegedly he will spend the weekend behind bars.
"As predicted two dozens of DCI officers raided my Nyeri home and arrested me to face trumped up charges of money laundering. I am being driven to Nairobi at reckless speed to spend the weekend in the cells," read part of the post shared by Gachagua.
According to his lawyer Wahome Gikonyo, they did not receive information about the Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji approving the charges and arrest of Gachagua.
Gachagua's rise to the political limelight came during late former President Daniel Moi where he served as Kiambaa District Officer (D.O).
He wanted to run for the Nyeri Gubernatorial seat after the death of his brother Nyeri Nderitu Gachagua but later dropped the bid.
He was on DCI radar for a while. According to an initial statement issued by DCI Director George Kinoti, the Mathira MP allegedly used 42 companies to disburse a cumulative total of Ksh12 billion.
The transactions according to a statement by DCI were reported having mostly been made at a time when Rigathi's elder brother, late Nderitu Gachagua, was serving as Nyeri Governor.
All the monies were then converged in a firm listed as Wamunyoro Investments Limited. This company’s directors are said to be the MP and his wife.
Rigathi appearing on a local TV station stated that he started making money by organizing discos while on campus.
He also denied doing business with Nyeri county urging the people to let his brother rest in peace.
“We never did any business with Nyeri county, we were never going to do it, and I want people to stop pursuing my brother when he is resting, let him rest in peace,” the MP said.
“Anyone who has evidence that we did business with the county, bring it on”
Gachagua added that he has been running various businesses for over 40 years and that is how he managed to make his wealth.
“I’m a prudent businessman, I started doing business 40 years ago. At the university we used to get Ksh.2600 as boom, I would organize discos and pick half of the money from these guys; I had a car, I had a factory for sweets,” claimed.
The outspoken legislature maintains that all the allegations raised against him stem from his support for DP Ruto.
