MP Rigathi Gachagua’s Bank Accounts Frozen

The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has obtained orders to freeze three bank accounts belonging to Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua for one week.

The accounts were frozen to give room for investigations against MP Gachagua over graft and money laundering allegations, The Standard reported on Friday.

Gachagua is accused of conspiring with Nyeri County government officials and officers at the Irrigation docket to embezzle funds through his companies, according to lawyer Stephen Githinji. 

"There are reasonable grounds to believe that the accounts are used as conduits of money laundering contrary to sections three, four, and seven and section 16 of Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.”

"There is a real danger that the funds suspected in the listed bank accounts may be withdrawn, transferred, spent, or dissipate rendering this application and indeed recovery of the proceeds of crime nugatory," said Githinji.

The three accounts at a local bank are registered under two companies, Wamunyoro Investment and Technical Supplies and Services Limited—both owned by Gachagua.

"It is hereby ordered that warrants to restrict debits for a period of seven days on the bank is hereby issued," Milimani Court Senior Resident Magistrate Muthoni Nzibe ruled.