A court in Kenya has allowed the withdrawal of a $60 million fraud case against the country’s deputy president, Rigathi Gachgaua by prosecutors.
Anti-corruption court magistrate Victor Wakumile, in his ruling on Thursday November 10, 2022, cited insufficient evidence as the basis for granting the request to withdraw the corruption case against Deputy President who was elected in August 2022.
Gachagua was charged with corruption in July 2021 with nine other people and companies, and was released after depositing cash bail equal to about $100,000. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Earlier this month, Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions Nordin Haji asked the court to allow the withdrawal of the corruption charges against the newly elected deputy president. The court, however, has warned the accused persons that they may be rearrested in the future over the same charges should investigators find evidence.
A number of cases involving allies of President William Ruto have been withdrawn by prosecutors since Ruto was elected president and formed Kenya’s new government.