By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Rigathi Gachagua, running mate to William Ruto, of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has vowed to appeal Thursday’s judgment of a high court ordering him to refund about $1.7 million to the state.
He described the judgment as a “sham trial” and an attempt to to undermine his candidacy in the August 9 presidential election.
The court presided over by Judge Esther Maina determined that the funds were proceeds of corruption.
Gachagua’s lawyers however argued that the funds were payment for the supply of goods and services to the government but the court held that there was no evidence to prove the claim.
Gachagua’s accounts were frozen in 2020 following a request by the government’s Asset Recovery Agency.
The funds came from the Kenya Informal Settlements Programme, the State Department for Special Planning, the Ministry of Health, and several county governments.
