The impeachment case against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has taken a significant turn. Conflicting witness statements have emerged regarding the ownership of the Olive Garden Hotel.
The hotel is among various properties cited in the motion accusing Gachagua of acquiring assets through corrupt practices.
Gachagua has consistently denied ownership of the hotel, stating that it belonged to his late brother, Nderitu Gachagua.
In an affidavit now considered admissible by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, witness Peterson Muchira Njomo makes an assertion. He states that on March 31, 2023, Gachagua approached him. The subject was to negotiate the purchase of the Olive Garden Hotel. The negotiation was via an “informal secret agreement” for Ksh412 million.
Muchira claims in the affidavit that the secret agreement had a specific term. It stipulated that Gachagua would buy the hotel by reimbursing the purchase price of Ksh412,000,000.
“The Deputy President would instruct a contractor to renovate the hotel. He would pay the contractor after the transaction is completed,” Muchira states in the affidavit.
In his affidavit, Muchira indicates that to protect Gachagua’s undisclosed interest in the hotel, “I would appoint Ms. Jullanne Jahenda as a signatory or agent for the hotel’s account at the Co-operative Bank of Kenya Ltd. ” I have thus far permitted Ms. Jahenda is responsible for operating the hotel, in accordance with my agreement with the DP.
During a session with the National Assembly on October 8, Gachagua dismissed the allegations. He reiterated that the Olive Garden Hotel was never his. “The assertions that I own the Olive Garden Hotel are false.” “My late brother owned it. It has never been in my possession,” he explained to members of parliament.
The Olive Garden Hotel is one of four properties examined in the case. The case also includes Vipingo Beach Resort, Queensgate Apartments, and Lang’ata Highrise Flats. Gachagua claims all these properties belonged to his late brother.
