- Rigathi Gachagua has stepped up his attacks on President William Ruto, claiming that close associates of the President are at the center of the Minnesota fraud scandal
- Gachagua accused Ruto of protecting powerful people, claiming money stolen from the US was sent to Kenya and invested in land, houses and commercial buildings
- He directly asked US President Donald Trump to ignore the legal process of Kenya’s extradition and take direct action against the suspects
- He also claimed that part of the money was linked to political sponsorship and the importation of duty-free rice that hurt local farmers
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has escalated his war of words against President William Ruto, accusing the President’s close associates of being at the heart of the Minnesota fraud scandal.
Source: Facebook
The leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) claimed that people associated with Ruto they were involved in the theft of funds intended to help the people of Minnesota, funds that he said were later sent to Kenya and invested in high value assets.
What did Gachagua ask Trump?
Speaking during a church service on Sunday, January 4, at AIPCA Kiratina, the former deputy president accused Ruto of publicly showing a tough stance against crime while secretly protecting influential people within his inner circle.
He said the President’s recent statements against narcotics and corruption are being undermined by what he called selective law enforcement—one that frees accomplices and punishes critics.
Gachagua brought the United States into the political debate within Kenya by encouraging the President of the United States Donald Trump ignore Kenyan legal procedures and take strict action against those involved.
In his speech, Gachagua directly asked Trump to ignore what he called the weakened transfer process in Kenya and instead take unilateral measures.
“Therefore, we ask you, Trump, not to bother with the transfer process in Kenya. Just do as you did in Venezuela: send your people by plane, come and get that person, send him, sue him, return the money there, sell that commercial building, and let this person stop bothering us,” said the former vice president.
He referred to the recent operation in Venezuela that saw President Nicolas Maduro arrested, saying Washington should use a similar approach to deal with suspects in the Minnesota saga allegedly operating from Kenya.
“Trump, in order to help this country, intervene on our behalf, ignore the process and do what he did in Venezuela. Kenyans will be grateful. And if possible, he should do it early this week. Don’t delay,” he added.
How is Kenya First involved with the suspects in the Minnesota saga?
According to Gachagua, the money stolen in Minnesota was transferred to Kenya, where it was used to buy land, build residential houses and develop commercial buildings.
He claimed that the US authorities have discovered the plan and started looking for those involved, while some of the alleged beneficiaries continue to enjoy political and economic protection at home.
“The money was stolen and brought to Kenya. It was used to buy land, build houses and commercial buildings. The American authorities have now discovered this and have started looking for those involved. It is alleged that part of the money was given to the President to finance the UDA campaign. There is a business building in Eastleigh that was built with these funds. The owner of the building is a business partner of the President,” Gachagua said.
The former vice president suggested that the same network continues to benefit from government protection and lucrative government-linked contracts.
Gachagua linked the businessman to the ongoing complaints about the importation of rice on a large scale, saying that the move has hurt the farmers of Mwea and Western Kenya.
He claimed that approximately 500,000 metric tons of imported rice were earmarked for importation by the same person claiming to benefit from Minnesota funds.
The former second in power in the government said that importation of rice and sugar without duty has been used as economic weapons that destroyed local producers.
Source: UGC
Gachagua claimed that there are underground efforts to prevent any attempt to transport the suspects to the United States.
“However, yesterday it was reported that the President was planning how the courts will prevent those people from being taken. There is a process called transfer. The President is planning for court orders to be issued to prevent them from leaving, and you will see those orders being issued, because the owner of that commercial building has been placed under surveillance by the United States.” claimed the former vice president.
He said plans were already underway to obtain court orders that would prevent those under investigation from leaving the country.
Gachagua emphasized that quick intervention would help recover stolen funds, break exploitative trade networks, and reduce pressure on local farmers caused by the importation of cheap products.
He went further to say that Kenyans already know who is at the center of his claims, stressing that immediate action would be welcome.
“That man is in Eastleigh; we can tell you where he is. Send a plane to pick him up, like he did when he picked up the president of another country. That’s what we want him to do. And if Kasongo is also found to be involved in this matter, the plane can carry him too,” Gachagua said.
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