NAIROBI — A Kenyan court on Thursday ordered Rigathi Gachagua, a politician running for vice president in next month’s election to forfeit nearly $1.7 million that had been frozen in a corruption probe.
The case highlights rampant corruption in Kenya, where the anti-corruption organization last month raised “integrity” concerns over more than 200 candidates vying for various positions in the August 9 elections.
Judge Esther Maina ruled that Gachagua, running mate of presidential candidate William Ruto, had not explained the origin of the 200 million Kenyan shillings found in his bank account and therefore had to hand them over to the state.
Gachagua, who said in court documents that the money came from the operations of his businesses, blasted the verdict and vowed to appeal.
“The judge was biased against us from the start and flouted caution in conducting a mock trial,” he said on Twitter.
Incumbent Vice President Ruto and his main presidential rival, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, have pledged to crack down on corruption, but voters remain skeptical as corruption touches almost every walk of life.
Kenyans will not only elect a new president next month, but also several hundred MPs and some 1,500 county officials.
Home Affairs minister Fred Matiang’i said on Tuesday banks were running out of 100 and 200 shilling notes because they were being used by politicians to bribe people ahead of the vote.
He accused politicians of “dragging their way” into elected institutions and expressed concern that elected officials could not act to clean up the system.
Kenya was ranked 128th out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2021 Transparency Perceptions Index, with the watchdog saying its fight against corruption has “stagnant”.
- Editor / additional report by AFP
