In a dramatic turn of events, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s late brother, Nderitu Gachagua, has been drawn into the ongoing impeachment proceedings in the National Assembly.
During a church service held at the DP’s official residence in Karen on Sunday, Gachagua denied allegations that he had amassed a wealth of Ksh.5.2 billion in just two years since becoming Deputy President, a claim leveled against him by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, the mover of his impeachment motion.
Gachagua pointed out that much of the wealth highlighted in the motion was not his, but part of his late Brother Nderitu Gachagua’s estate.
“I am deeply pained that my late brother, a good man who worked tirelessly for his family, is being dragged into this. His private will, which he made in confidence, is now being plastered across newspapers,” Gachagua lamented.
Nderitu Gachagua’s Will
The will of the late Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua was first made public in August 2018 after his passing, and it detailed how his Ksh.2 billion wealth would be shared amongst his listed beneficiaries.
In the will, Rigathi Gachagua, former Nyeri Governor Mwai Mathenge, and their family lawyer Njoroge Regeru, were named as the executors of the will. Each executor, including Gachagua, was set to receive a 5% share of Nderitu’s estate, equivalent to Ksh.10 million.
Nderitu Gachagua also tasked the younger Gachagua with managing their mother’s share of the estate, equivalent to 5% of the estate, which is held in a family trust.
Beneficiaries of the will
Nderitu Gachagua, a polygamist, left 10% of his estate to his two wives, Margaret Waithegeni and Margaret Nyokabi, with each surviving spouse receiving a 5% share of the estate.
Waithegeni was bequeathed homes in Karen and Meru, while Nyokabi inherited their Lang’ata home.
Nderitu’s four children – Kenneth, Jason, Susan, and Mercy- received 10% of the estate. The sons also inherited a 4-acre property in Hiriga, Nyeri County.
Nderitu also bequeathed part of his wealth to his two children fathered outside marriage, named Jason and Aston. The two sons inherited Nderitu’s recreational properties, including Olive Gardens Hotel in Nairobi, Vipingo Beach Resort in Kilifi, and Queensgate Serviced Apartments in Nairobi, which were to be managed by their mothers, Susan Wanjiru and Eva Mukami.
Gachagua’s defense
According to an affidavit submitted by Nderitu’s lawyers, Mwai Mathenge and Njoroge Regeru, several properties named in the impeachment motion- including Vipingo Beach Resort- belonged fully to Nderitu and not Rigathi.
The affidavits further clarified that several properties, including Queensgate Service Apartments and Lang’ata Apartment, which were listed as part of Gachagua’s properties, were part of Nderitu’s estate, and hence, have no connection to the misuse of public funds.
Defending himself from the accusations, Gachagua urged his political opponents to focus on him rather than his late brother. “My late brother worked so hard to acquire property for his children. Let him rest in peace,” Gachagua pleaded.
His plea for forgiveness
During the church service in Karen, Gachagua publicly apologized to President William Ruto. He asked the President to overlook any political missteps for the sake of national unity.
“In our work, which we started two years ago, challenges arose, and in our zeal to work, we may have wronged someone. I want to say to my brother William Ruto, if in our zeal to work I have wronged you, please find it in your heart to forgive me,” Gachagua said.
Gachagua also apologized to Members of Parliament, even as he is set to face his accusers in Parliament to defend himself. He also sought forgiveness from his wife, Dorcas Rigathi, for the “unwarranted remarks” made against her in the ongoing political battle.