Fight Which Could See Gachagua Lose 3 Properties, Including Multimillion Hotels

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua now risks losing three properties left behind by his late brother, Nderitu Gachagua, properties that were notably mentioned in the impeachment motion against him last year.

Margaret Karungaru Nderitu, the widow of the late former Nyeri Governor, has written to the Asset Recovery Agency seeking its intervention in a fresh battle over the deceased's multimillion-shilling fortune.

In a letter dated February 3, 2025, and obtained by Viral Tea, Nderitu claimed that the three properties including Olive Gardens, Vipingo Beach Resort, and Queensgate Serviced Apartments & Spar were unlawfully acquired by the impeached second-in-command.

"While I was the rightful heir to my late husband's estate, the former Deputy President, who was entrusted with the management of the estate, misappropriated funds meant for me and my children.

"These funds were instead used to purchase the properties listed above, depriving my family of the inheritance that rightfully belonged to us," she wrote in part.

Margaret lamented that during that period, she and her children were under immense duress, with limited ability to defend their rights.

She added that as a result, they were denied rightful access to the estate's resources, and the assets we inherited were unlawfully diverted for personal gain.

"Given these circumstances, I respectfully request that the Kenya Asset Recovery Agency conduct an investigation into these transactions and take the necessary actions to recover the properties for the benefit of my children and me. These assets were acquired fraudulently and should be returned to their rightful owners," she added.

"Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I look forward to your assistance in recovering what is rightfully ours." The Asset Recovery Agency is yet to respond to her request by the time of publishing this story.

In a tell-all address to the nation at his Karen residence on October 7, 2024, Gachagua, before he faced the axe courtesy of Parliament, debunked all the corruption allegations against him including clarifying his role on the estate left by his brother Nderitu Gachagua who passed away in February 2017.

While apologising to his brother, the DP revealed that as part of the estate, Nderitu left behind four properties including a hotel and a highrise apartment with a will directing Rigathi as the executor to sell them and share the property if need be.

Among them was the Olive Garden Hotel which the Deputy President had revealed was sold for Ksh412 million and the money shared with beneficiaries. Also, Queens Gate Apartment was sold to a bank at a value of Ksh600 million, a majority of which was used to pay off debts left by the deceased former Nyeri Governor.

Gachagua further noted that his brother owned Vipingo Beach Hotel which the family resorted to saving a sentimental value that "reminds us of our beloved brother."

"I take this opportunity to ask for forgiveness from my late brother James Nderitu Gachagua that today as your younger brother defends himself he’ll defile your privacy by distributing your will that you wrote in privacy.

"How unfair, how cruel can you be to a dead man? My dear brother rest in peace and forgive me for having joined politics because were it not for politics, you would not suffer this shame," he appealed.