Rigathi Gachagua: Nine co-accused persons arraigned over Ksh27.4 million fraud
By Nancy Gitonga, August 3, 2021Nine Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua co-accused persons have been charged this morning before Milimani Anti-Corruption Court with defrauding Nyeri county government Ksh 27.4 million.
Appearing before magistrate Rose wakhungu the nine accused persons 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.
Others are Grace Wambui Kariuki, Lawrence Kimaru, Irene Wambui Ndigiriri, David Reuben Nyangi Nguru and Rapid Medical Supplies Ltd.
According to the charge sheet filed in court, the nine accused persons were charged that together with MP Gachagua, they jointly conspired to commit an offence of corruption by defrauding Nyeri County Government of Ksh27.4 million purportedly for supply of dialysis machines to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital.
Prosecution says that 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 Ksh 6 million from the Nyeri county government being part of the payment for the supply of the dialysis machines.
The nine accused person were charged after they presented themselves before court after they were summoned last week.
After denying the charhes, defence team led by Tom ojienda urged the court to grant the accused persons separate terms from the once granted to the principal suspect Gachagua last week.
Ojienda requested the court to grant the lienent bail terms ranging of KSh 1 million cash bail with an alternative bond of KSh 2 million cash bail.
“You should not be persuaded the amounts in the charges as by the are compound terms,”Ojienda said.
Nine Gachagua co-accused arraigned over Ksh27.4 million fraud
The court heard that the accused person have co-operated with the investigations in the matter and are not a flight risk.
Some of the accused person have urged the court to grant them a free bond as they are not in formal employment.