The deputy and running mate of William Ruto in the Kenyan presidential election, Rigathi Gachagua was sentenced on Thursday July 28 to return to the Kenyan state the equivalent of 1.7 million euros of public money which he is accused of having embezzled. . He and William Ruto have nevertheless promised to make the fight against corruption a priority in the event of an election. Rigathi Gachaga promises to appeal.
With our correspondent in Nairobi, Florence Morice
This verdict is the culmination of 3 years of investigations. His conclusion is clear: Rigathi Gachagua was unable to explain to the judges the source of a sum of 202 million Kenyan shillings, or 1.7 million euros. Money received from various government agencies according to the prosecution, without proof of any service provided in exchange.
This sum, which he is ordered to repay, however, only represents one that he is suspected of having acquired in just seven years, between 2013 and 2020. The deputy candidate reacted on Twitter. He accuses the judge of bias », denounces « a mock trial and promises to appeal.
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.— Rigathi Gachagua (@rigathi) July 28, 2022
Be that as it may, it is a blow 10 days before the presidential election and in the midst of a campaign largely dominated by the theme of the fight against endemic corruption in Kenya. Last month, the anti-corruption body raised issues in a report “ of integrity concerning more than 200 candidates in these general elections.
The Interior Minister also said on Tuesday that the distribution of money by politicians during campaign rallies was causing a shortage of small bills in the country.