Jackson Kihara accuses Rigathi Gachagua of plot to seize family estate

Nephew to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Jackson kihara Gachagua in the dock ,  who was jailed for 20 years at the Milimani law court on May 21, 2026 after he appeared to appeal his jail term before Justice Alexander Muteti.The ruling will be delivered on June 17, 2026 [David Gichuru,Standard]

A son of the late Nderitu Gachagua has accused his uncle, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, of allegedly framing him in a robbery with violence case in a bid to take over a multi-million-shilling family estate.

Jackson Kihara, who is serving a 20-year jail term for robbery with violence, made the allegations before High Court Judge Alexander Muteti while seeking a review of his sentence.

Kihara claimed he had been threatened and intimidated by Gachagua in an attempt to compel him to surrender crucial documents allegedly entrusted to him by his late father relating to the family estate.

 “I am in this situation because I declined to give my uncle (Rigathi Gachagua) documents entrusted to me by my late father in relation to the family estate,” Kihara told Justice Muteti.

He further revealed in court that he had made several attempts to resolve the matter out of court,but the efforts had failed.

 “I have attempted to reach out to my uncle Gachagua to resolve this matter but he has declined. My family members, including my sister, have tried to reach him but in vain,” Kihara told the court.

When asked by the judge why he had changed his mind and opted to seek a review of the sentence, Kihara said he had decided to speak out after allegedly being assured of his safety by the government.

Kihara told the court that he had been promised protection, giving him confidence to publicly make the revelations.

However, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions denied the allegations, maintaining that the State had not promised Kihara security, safety or assistance in securing his release from prison.

Kihara also alleged that city lawyer Danstan Omari received 95 per cent of an agreed Sh500,000 legal fee for filing an application seeking review of his sentence but failed to fully pursue the matter.

He told the court that attempts to reach the lawyer had since proved unsuccessful.

“After lawyer Omari received the money he abandoned me and he never calls from me todate,” he added.

Kihara further revealed that he had escalated the matter to the disciplinary committee of the Law Society of Kenya and brought it to the attention of former LSK President Faith Odhiambo.

Kihara is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of robbery with violence on March 16, 2015, by Magistrate Hellen Onkwani.

Onkwani had initially sentenced him to death before the sentence was quashed by Justice Ngenye Macharia, who ordered a retrial.

Following the retrial, Magistrate Bernard Ochoi sentenced Kihara on April 20, 2020, to 20 years imprisonment effective from the date of his arrest in 2015.

Justice Muteti is expected to rule on whether to review the 20-year prison sentence on June 17, 2026.

 The judge also ordered Manyani Maximum Security Prison to facilitate the escort of the convict to the secret location where he claims the estate documents are hidden.