The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers have arrested the Member of Parliament for Mathira Constituency Rigathi Gachagua.

Gachagua was arrested on Friday, July 23, 2021, from his home in Nyeri in the early hours of the morning.

His lawyer Wahome Gikonyo has intimated that he is unaware of the charges against his client.

Gachagua recently moved to court to stop his impending arrest over fraud allegations. He also sought anticipatory bail just in case the DCI and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) pressed charges against him. 

He has been under investigation for allegations of money laundering.

According to a statement by the DCI, Gachagua is alleged to have used about 42 companies to disburse Sh12 billion cumulatively.

These transactions are said to have been prominent during the late Governor Nderitu Gachagua’s tenure in office. Nderitu Gachagua was Rigathi Gachagua’s elder brother.

Rigathi has stated that his arrest is politically instigated especially after he humiliated the administration in the recently concluded Kiambaa by-election.

He rubbished the corruption allegations as rumours and asked his constituent to ignore them, claiming that they are baseless accusations to intimidate him over his political beliefs.

“I want to tell the people of Mathira to ignore the rumours, their MP has not stolen anything, these are just baseless accusations to intimidate me for my political standing,” he said.

Rigathi claims his woes began when he declared his support for Deputy President William Ruto and went against President Uhuru Kenyatta.