Nine people have been charged with defrauding the County Government of Nyeri Ksh 27.4 million in a case involving Mathira Member of Parliament Rigathi Gachagua.
The suspects were accused of conspiracy to commit an economic crime and fraudulent acquisition of public property.
They were implicated in a plot to defraud the Nyeri County Government of Ksh 27.4 million for the supply of dialysis machines.
Appearing before Magistrate Rose Wakhungu on Tuesday, August 3, 2021, the nine accused persons denied two charges of conspiracy to commit an economic crime and fraudulent acquisition of public property.
In the charge sheet filed in court, the nine accused persons were charged that together with MP Gachagua, jointly conspired to commit an offence of corruption.
The dialysis machines were to be supplied to the Nyeri Provincial General Hospital. According to the prosecutor, on December 29, 2014, the accused persons received Ksh 6 million from the Nyeri County Government as part of the payment for the supply of the equipment.
Those charged include Mathira CDF Manager William Mwangi Wahome, Ann Nduta Ruo, Julianne Jahenda Makaa and Samuel Murimi Ireri.
Others are Grace Wambui Kariuki, Lawrence Kimaru, Irene Wambui Ndigiriri, David Reuben Nyangi Nguru and Rapid Medical Supplies Ltd.
Defence lawyer Tom Ojienda urged the court to grant the suspects different bond terms from the one given to Gachagua. But some of the suspects asked for free bond arguing they were not in formal employment.
Gachagua after his release on Monday night, July 26, thanked his friends who helped him raise Ksh12 million cash bail in just three hours.
He was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, fraudulent acquisition of public property, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime and conflict of interest.
Chief Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi released him on a Ksh 12 million cash bail with an alternative bond of Ksh 25 million.
