Senate Speaker Deals Setback to Gachagua Over New Evidence in Hotel Ownership Dispute
In a bid to bar the Senate from admitting new evidence in the ongoing case facing him over the ownership of the Olive Garden Hotel, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has lost another case.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi threw out the application by Gachagua, allowing the evidence to remain part of the ongoing proceedings.
Gachagua, through his lawyers, had asked to have an affidavit by witness Peterson Muchira struck out on grounds that it was inadmissible in the case.
Muchira’s affidavit offers very detailed allegations about a secret deal between the Deputy President and himself over the transaction involving the Nairobi-based hotel.
In his sworn statement, Muchira swore that Gachagua had approached him informally and persuaded him to enter into a secret agreement over the ownership of the hotel.
He said the Deputy President accepted to buy the property from him refunding the initial purchase price of KSh 412 million.
Muchira further declared that as part of the deal, Gachagua gave an undertaking to pay a contractor who was to renovate the hotel after the purchase was complete.
“The Deputy President had convinced me to enter into an informal secret arrangement regarding the transaction embodied in the agreement annexed on pages 10 to 34 of his response to the motion,” Muchira said in the affidavit.
Gachagua, however, denied the allegations before the National Assembly members, stating categorically, “The allegation that I own the Olive Garden Hotel is false.”
Although Gachagua denied the claims, the case drew quite a lot of interest among Kenyans who question the Deputy President’s financial dealings.
His legal problems have piled up as scrutiny over his personal finances mounted, including an earlier high-profile case where the Asset Recovery Agency sought to freeze KSh 200 million from his accounts, claiming the funds were proceeds of corruption.
Gachagua has consistently denied any wrongdoing, labeling the accusations as politically motivated.
It is here that Senate Speaker Kingi allowed Muchira’s affidavit into evidence, which might just prove to be the turning point in these investigations.
According to legal experts, if the evidence is proved credible, it might plunge the Deputy President into a lot of trouble as the Senate probes further into the matter.
The case is still unfolding, with both sides arming themselves for other legal battles.
Gachagua’s lawyers indicated that they may seek other legal routes to contest the new evidence, but for now, the Senate will proceed with its inquiry.
By Robert Mwania
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