Mutuse faces tough questions over Gachagua's wealth claims

Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse during Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's impeachment trial on October 17, 2024. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, the mover of the impeachment motion, faced a tough time explaining how he concluded that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua had accumulated property worth Sh5.2 billion in the last two years.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka asked Mutuse whether there was any variation in the value of Gachagua’s wealth between the time he became a Member of Parliament in 2017 and his election as Deputy President.

Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute pressed Mutuse to provide evidence supporting his claim that Gachagua’s property is worth Sh5.2 billion and to clarify whether the 11 charges presented before the House met the threshold to impeach the Deputy President.

Mutuse responded by referencing Gachagua’s 2022 Deputy Presidential debate, where the DP declared his net worth as Sh800 million.

“I have tabled evidence showing property directly or indirectly owned by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, valued in the billions. It is upon him to prove how he acquired this wealth, given that his earnings over the last two years do not justify such vast accumulation,” he said.

The Kibwezi West MP added that he had listed 22 companies owned by the DP. He clarified that he was not an investigator but had established a prima facie case against the DP.

Mutuse alleged that Gachagua’s two sons are directors of Vipingo Ridge, with the shares held by the Estate of Nderitu Gachagua, the DP’s late brother, suggesting this was a tactic to conceal ownership. He further claimed that Gachagua’s ally, Peterson Njomo, was approached to acquire Olive Gardens Hotel as a proxy for the Deputy President.

Mutuse told Senators there was sufficient evidence  showing that Julian Jahenda, an employee in the Deputy President’s office, manages Olive Gardens Hotel, which was formerly owned by the Estate of the late Nderitu Gachagua before its ownership was transferred.