Gachagua: Martha Karua Debate Was Why I Lost Ksh200 Million

He was particular in stating that the judgement was delivered in a hurry, with almost a week to the elections.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Jul 28, 2022 - 11:11 Updated: Jul 28, 2022 - 11:11
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Gachagua: Martha Karua Debate Was Why I Lost Ksh200 Million
Rigathi Gachagua and Martha Karua during the Deputy Presidential debate on July 19, 2022. /FILE

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua has said that his brilliant performance during the deputy presidential debate was the reason the High Court ordered him to surrender Ksh202 million to the government.

Speaking on Thursday, July 28 after the ruling, Gachagua cited the judgement as an attempt to derail Kenya Kwanza's bid to emerge victorious in the August 9 general elections.

He was particular in stating that the judgement was delivered in a hurry, with almost a week to the elections.

UDA running mate Rigathi Gachagua arrives at the Milimani Courts in July 2021. /FILE

"The judgment was hastily rushed ten days before the elections in a futile attempt to undermine my candidature in the coming elections and dent my sterling performance in the running mates debate last week," he lamented.

Gachagua had defeated his Azimio presidential running mate, Martha Karua in the deputy president's debate held on Tuesday, July 19. 

He then accused Justice Esther Maina of bias and conducting a shoddy trial.

"The judgment today by Justice Esther Maina, in my case against the Asset Recovery Agency, did not come as a surprise to me and my lawyers. 

"The Judge was biased against us from the word go and threw caution to the wind by conducting a sham trial. Against the rules of evidence, she refused our application to cross-examine the Investigator in order to test the veracity of his allegations."

"She ruled that all evidence should be through affidavits and rejected oral evidence," he lamented.

He promised to contest the judgement at the High Court on grounds that he was denied a fair hearing.

Justice Maina ruled that the Mathira MP confessed to acquiring the funds from government agencies but there was no supporting evidence to reveal that he supplied any services or goods.

“I have carefully considered the evidence on record including affidavits, annexures and submissions by all parties and I am satisfied that the funds are liable for forfeiture to the government,” the judge said. 

Gachagua landed in trouble with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on July 23, 2021, over money laundering claims when detectives picked him up from his home in Nyeri.

He faced six corruption charges on the acquisition of Ksh7.3 billion from proceeds of crime between the years 2013 and 2020 through business dealings with the government.

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential running mate Rigathi Gachagua. /FILE

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