Mathira MP Nderitu Gachagua risks being investigated for money laundering by the Asset Recovery Authority (ARA). – By Collins Osanya
ARA seeks to find out how 12.5 billion shillings passed through the legislators three bank accounts in a span of 7 years and whether the monies were proceeds of crime.
“There are reasonable grounds to believe that the said accounts received and are holding funds, which are believed to be proceeds of crime and the accounts were used to execute a complex money laundering scheme in an effort designed to conceal, disguise and hide the nature, source, movement and disposition of the funds,” the petition stated.
Nderitu’s billionaire status is a misery to state agencies, puzzled how a former District Commissioner who owns no industries made it to the wealthy billionaires club.
So far, the ARA froze Sh200 million belonging to the legislator and which he might lose if the petition by the state agency goes through.
According to the Daily Nation, ARA could only trace Sh5.2 billion after the MP allegedly withdrew Sh12.5 billion which he channeled to various companies, whilst investing a portion of the money.
The ARA also investigated 33 bank accounts associated with the lawmaker and his companies among them Wamunyoro Investments Ltd, Crystal Kenya Ltd, Machine Centre, Technical Supplies and Services Ltd, Skytop Agencies and Specific Supplies Ltd.
Payments made to the said accounts associated were traced to Kwale and Bungoma counties which deposited Sh112.4 million shillings to Encarta Diagnostics.
The Ministry of Lands (Kenya Informal Settlements Programme), state department for Special Planning, Ministry of Health, Mathira Constituency development funds, Nyeri county government and the National Irrigation Board also made payments to the said bank accounts.
