BY HARRIET MUGO
The hearing of the Sh 7.4 billion corruption case against the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been postponed following a request of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)
The DPP said they had received new documents touching on the case and wanted time to re-examine the case.
Appearing before Judge Victor Wakhumile on Monday, a counsel from the DPP office told the court that they had received documents from the defendants, and therefore requested to be given a period of three weeks to investigate again.
The former Mathira MP is accused of fraudulently acquiring Ksh.7.4 billion as proceeds of crime between 2013 and 2020 through business dealings in the government.
He is facing six counts among them conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, fraudulent acquisition of public property, conflict of interest, money laundering and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
Gachagua is charged alongside former Mathira CDF manager William Mwangi Wahome, Ann Nduta Ruo, Jullianne Jahenda Makaa and Samuel Murimi Ireri, Grace Wambui Kariuki, Lawrence Kimaru, Irene Wambui Ndigiriri, David Reuben Nyangi Nguru and Rapid Medical Supplies Ltd.
The nine are jointly charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption by allegedly defrauding the Nyeri County Government of Ksh.27.4 million for supply of dialysis machines to Nyeri Provincial General Hospital.
Just last month, the case failed to take off following filing of a petition at the Supreme Court by Azimio-One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga, challenging the victory of President William Ruto and Gachagua.
The case was among those affected by the petition after the Judiciary closed Milimani Law Courts from August 26 to pave the way for the apex court judges to conduct the hearing and determination of the dispute.
Some of the defendants, including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, did not appear in court, raising concerns as to whether the case was to be heard online or if they were required to appear in person
However, judge Wakhumile, dismissed those reasons, saying that the case will be heard from the 21st of November.
Wakhumile has ordered all the defendants in the case to appear in court.
