Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s close ally has contradicted his remarks on the purported sale of the Olive Gardens Hotel, a property at the center of the grounds for the DP’s impeachment.
In the impeachment motion sponsored by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, Gachagua is accused of corruptly acquiring the Olive Gardens Hotel, among other properties valued at KSh 5.2 billion.
However, while appearing in the National Assembly, Gachagua said the hotel in question belonged to his late brother, former Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua.
He denied ownership of the hotel, saying it was sold and the proceeds shared among Nderitu’s family, including himself, as per his will that he wrote before his death in February 2017.
"The allegation that I own the Olive Garden Hotel is false. The truth is the Olive Garden Hotel used to belong to my late brother, the Nderitu Gachagua, and therefore has never been my property,” said Gachagua.However, in the latest development, Gachagua’s close ally Peterson Njomo Muchira has come out to set the record straight.
Muchira, in an affidavit presented to Parliament, said Gachagua approached him on March 31, 2023 and convinced him to purchase the Olive Gardens Hotel.
Muchira said at that time, the hotel still belonged to Nderitu. He said the second in command persuaded him to enter into the secret arrangement regarding the transaction.
In the secret arrangement, after Muchira had acquired the hotel at KSh 421 million, the witness said Gachagua would now buy the hotel from him by refunding the purchase price.
To protect his interests in the hotel, Muchira said Gachagua was to appoint his close ally identified as Julianne Jahenda as a signatory for the hotel’s account and also run it.
“To protect Gachagua’s undisclosed interest in the hotel, I would appoint Julianne Jahenda as a signatory or agent for the hotel’s account at and to further protect the DP’s undisclosed interest, Julianne Jahenda will run the hotel,” Muchira says in an affidavit.The deal would go as agreed and at the moment, Muchira said Jahenda runs the hotel on behalf of the deputy president.
