Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is an elated public servant after the government returned to him the Sh202 million he had forfeited to the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA).

ARA says Gachagua has satisfactorily explained, through new evidence, the legitimate source of the said cash and proven that it was not proceeds of crimes as earlier believed.

The amount belonging to the then running mate to presidential candidate William Ruto was forfeited to the state six months ago through a directive issued by the High Court in Nairobi.

But the agency now alleges the High Court, while issuing the order then, the new evidence supposedly now in its possession had not been available to present before the judge.

The Appellate Court on Wednesday quitted the forfeiture order issued against Gachagua by the High Court in late 2022 and further set aside its judgment on the matter.

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Consequently, the Court of Appeal now allows him access to his cash in three accounts at Rafiki Microfinance Bank as well as an account linked to his Jenne Enterprises business.


The three Rafiki Microfinance Bank accounts separately hold Sh165 million, Sh35 million and Sh773,228 with the fourth one registered under Jenne Enterprises containing Sh1,138,142.

At the height of the 2022 campaigns, Gachagua said he wished to have his cash released if he became DP as the State questioned how Sh12.5 billion passed through his bank accounts.

He at the time promised to use the unfrozen cash to entertain men and women at his Mathira Constituency home.