The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on Saturday flagged a fake circular on social media targeting former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
In the fake letter, the ODPP is seemingly responding to findings from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission after a probe into Gachagua’s wealth.
The false documents further referenced Gachagua’s Ksh5.2 billion wealth, claiming investigations would be conducted on the same ‘given the evidence and the need to uphold public confidence in state institutions’.
“Should further investigations affirm these allegations, we authorize the commencement of prosecution proceedings including asset recovery where appropriate,” the letter, complete with a fake signature from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Renson Ingonga, read.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga
Photo
Office of The Director Of Public Prosecutions
One Kenyan brought the fake letter to the ODPP’s attention on Saturday, December 28, to which the ODPP immediately flagged it as fake.
The origins of the fake circular remain clear, although the fact that it was targeting the former Deputy President is a strong indicator that the letter was politically motivated.
Gachagua’s wealth has been a hot topic of conversation ever since an impeachment motion was tabled against him in September 2024.
The embattled former Deputy President went into a frantic tirade in the weeks leading up to his impeachment, where he boldly declared all his wealth and assets. This move worked against him, as his declaration of his wealth to the tune of billions raised more questions than answers on how he acquired it.
Gachagua has, however, maintained that he is a huge beneficiary of his late brother Nyeri governor Nderitu Gachagua’s wealth.
Interestingly, several government agencies and other key institutions in the country have been forced to come forth to dismiss letters and announcements linked to them in recent times.
One of the more sensational cases saw the US Embassy issue a clarification over a fake communique purporting to impose a travel ban against Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Kapseret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi. The fake letter went viral on December 1.
“These letters are fake. Creating or distributing false government documents is illegal in both Kenya and the United States,” U.S. Embassy spokesman James Hagengruber stated.
In November, the Ministry of Health through the Social Health Authority (SHA) on Sunday flagged a fake job alert purporting to recruit en masse for vacancies in the medical industry.
An image of a fake letter purporting to be from the ODPP. PHOTO/ ODPP.