A senior DCI officer has said former Directorate George Kinoti directed him to recommend the charging of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Sh7.3bn graft case.
Kuriah Obadiah, who was in charge of the team investigating the allegations, said DCI began digging into the matter after receiving a letter dated April 15, 2020, from the Financial Reporting Center.
The letter had made allegations of embezzlement of funds at the National Irrigation Board and other institutions.
In a sworn affidavit from October 15, the Superintendent added that he was directed to conduct a thorough investigation.
He however said they were given "very strict and fixed timelines to come up with findings promptly which made it difficult to conduct thorough and comprehensive investigations into the allegations".
"While investigations were still in progress, the director of DCI, Mr George Kinoti CBS, directed us to make recommendations that will enable the accused persons to face charges," he said.
He added:
"Based on immense pressure from my director, Mr Kinoti, my team made the recommendations. The accused persons were charged, and investigations could not continue as contemplated for various reasons."
Kuriah said some crucial areas of investigation that would have shed light in determining the innocence or otherwise of the accused persons were not covered.
He went on to make an application to have the case withdrawn to allow time to fully investigate the allegations.
"It would be prejudiced to the prosecution's case to proceed with the matter at this stage noting the outstanding areas of investigations that need to be covered," he said.
In the case, Gachagua was accused alongside William Wahome Mwangi, Anne Nduta Ruo, Julianne Jahenda Makaa, Samuel Murimi Ireri, Grace Wambui Kariuki, Lawrence Kimaru, Irene Wambui Ndigiriri, David Reuben Nyangi Nguru and M/S Rapid Medical Supplies Ltd.
