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| Rigathi Gachagua |
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has launched a passionate defence of his children, calling out those who scrutinise their investments. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said his sons had been demoralised. During an emotional press briefing on Monday, October 7, Gachagua addressed recent scrutiny regarding his children’s business activities, particularly their investments in the hospitality industry. The DP revealed that his children have been borrowing money from local banks to invest in Kenya, contrasting their actions with those of other wealthy individuals who stashed their funds in offshore accounts.
In a fiery brief, Gachagua questioned why his children’s efforts to invest locally were being treated with suspicion while many other prominent families moved their wealth abroad. Gachagua said his sons’ efforts in the tourism industry were intended to drive growth in the industry and create employment. “Why should the DP go to look for foreign investors when his own children can invest at home? Children of many other people I know hide their money in Dubai and Cayman Islands, they don’t want to invest here. What crime have the children of the DP of the Republic of Kenya committed by borrowing money from a bank to buy a hotel and spur tourism, create employment and spur business within the local environment,” Gachagua said.
How have Gachagua’s children been affected by scrutiny With a quiver in his voice, Gachagua recounted how his children felt demoralised by the public scrutiny. He stated that the boys had expressed frustration at being treated like criminals simply because of their family ties. “These boys are so demoralised, asking me, “Dad, why didn’t you advise us that it is a crime to be your children, that we have no life of our own, that we shouldn’t invest in our own country? And if we dare to invest we should do it under a proxy so that we conceal our identity. Are we criminals by virtue of being your children?”Gachagua posed.
by Didacus Malowa
