Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Sunday, June 11, revealed to the nation that his life was potentially in danger while exposing the cartels responsible for his brother Nderitu Gachagua's death.
During an interview with Inooro TV, the DP remarked that the coffee cartels were a dangerous outfit and his saving grace was enhanced security provided by the state.
Gachagua further alleged that his brother Nderitu Gachagua who passed away on February 24, 2017, was poisoned by the coffee cartels.
“The Head of State assigned me the task of leading these people because I have more resources including security since these are not good people.
“This war cannot be won by governors, this can only be won by DP and the President because these cartels can even kill you,” the DP stated maintaining that he would not relent until the cartels are wiped out of the sector.
While the governors were sidelined from the war against cartels, Gachagua revealed he was working closely with select cabinet secretaries.
They included Moses Kuria (Trade), Mithika Linturi (Agriculture), and Simon Chelugui (Co-operatives).
To emphasise how the cartels were powerful, Gachagua revealed that the security of Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire had been enhanced.
The development came a day after the governor, on Saturday, June 10, outed three firms as coffee cartels arguing that they controlled buying, milling and marketing of coffee.
The DP also claimed that days after the Ruto regime took over the reins, cartels attempted to bribe CS Mithika Linturi with Ksh30 million as a 'welcome gift' but he turned it down.
“They tried to bribe our CS, Mithika Linturi with Ksh.30 million when our government came into power. They said the money was from these cartels, and that it was a welcome gift to him," he noted.
Brother's Death
Gachagua, while alleging the cause of his brother’s death, stated, “Our family believes and we know the late Nderitu Gachagua was poisoned by those people.”
After the alleged poisoning, Gachagua indicated that his brother who was a very healthy person started becoming sickly.
Nderitu, who served as Nyeri Governor at the time, passed on at Royal Marsden Hospital in London while undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.
