Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua nine co-accused persons were yesterday charged with conspiring to defraud the county government of Nyeri Sh27 Million.

Appearing before Milimani Anti-Corruption magistrate Rose Wakhungu, the nine suspects denied two charges of conspiracy to commit an economic crime and fraudulent acquisition of public property.

Among those who are charged include Mathira CDF manager William Mwangi Wahome, Ann Nduta Ruo, Jullianne Jahenda Makaa and Samuel Murimi Ireri.

Fraudulent acquisition 

Others are Grace Wambui Kariuki, Lawrence Kimaru, Irene Wambui Ndigiriri, David Reuben Nyangi Nguru and Rapid Medical Supplies Ltd.

According to the charge sheet, the nine are charged, together with Gachagua, with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption by defrauding Nyeri County government of Sh 27.4 million purportedly for supply of dialysis machines to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital. 

Prosecution says the accused persons committed the offence between May 2015 and December 2016.

Nguru, Rapid Medical Supplies Ltd and the MP faced a separate charge of fraudulent acquisition of public property.

The court heard that on December 29, 2014, they received Sh6 million from Nyeri County government being part of the payment for the supply of the dialysis machines.

The nine accused persons  were charged after they presented themselves before court after they were summoned last week.  In the case,  there are a total of 10 accused persons.

Gachagua, who is the first accused person in the case, was arraigned on Tuesday last week and charged with acquiring Sh7.3 billion suspected to be proceeds of crime.

According to the charge sheet, the lawmaker is said to have fraudulently acquired the money through three different bank accounts in his name domiciled at Rafiki Micro-finance bank. 

He received the property between years 2013 and 2020 in Nairobi county while knowing that it formed part of proceeds of crimes. 

Gachagua faced another count of conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption. 

Remanded

The magistrate granted all Gachagua co-accused persons different bail terms after the prosecution indicated they will not oppose.

Wahome and Nduta were granted a bond of Sh2 million or a cash bail of Sh1 million.

David Reuben and Rapid Medical Supplies Limited, who faced a charge of fraudulent acquisition of property were granted a bond of Sh2 million or cash bail of Sh1.5 million

The other accused persons — Julianne Makaa, Samuel Murimi, Grace Wambui, Lawrence Kimaru and Irene Wambui— were granted a bond of Sh1 million or a cash bail of Sh 500,000.

Gachagua is out on a cash bail of Sh12 million which he paid on the same date he was charged. 

The accused persons who were unable to raise bail yesterday were remanded at Gigiri police to allow them process their bail terms. The case will be mentioned on August 9, 2021 for pretrial.