UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala says Rigathi Gachagua asked for Sh1.5B

UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala has come to the defence of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani said that the DP requested Sh1.5 billion, two days after the 2022 General Elections.

To counter the allegations, the former Kakamega County Senator said that the previous government had taken all the budget allocations from the office of the DP while speaking during on Citizen TV.

"The reason Sh1.5 billion was requested two days after the elections, is you know very well the previous tenure had taken all the budget elements from the office of the Deputy President.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua Pulse Live Kenya

READ: Controller of Budget alleges coercion to approve Sh15B days to August 2022 polls

"President Uhuru Kenyatta had taken away even the hospitality budget from William Ruto's office of the DP. Therefore, by the time Gachagua was being sworn in as the Deputy President, there was no money in that office and that is why they took back the budget which was there before the swearing-in to the DP's office," Malala explained.

Malala continued that the office of the DP has got very many things that need to be financed for instance buying and maintaining vehicles.

Malala questions criteria used by former government to approve Sh15B

Cleophas Malala also questioned the criteria that the former administration used to approve the release of Sh15 billion a few days before the 2022 General Elections.

UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala Pulse Live Kenya

READ: Gachagua vows to reveal truth behind millions looted in Uhuru's last 3 months

According to Malala, the person who bears the burden in this whole situation is the former head of state who was giving instructions through WhatsApp chats.

"The person who bears the greatest burden here is the former head of state who was giving instructions through a WhatsApp chat.

"If a WhatsApp chat can make somebody approve Sh26 billion, that's the highest level of misappropriation of public funds," said Malala.

Malala questioned what the money was being used for or where it was taken four days before the elections.

Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta in his office on February 10, 2023 Pulse Live Kenya

During a press briefing on March 3, Malala said publicly that Uhuru and Raila Odinga colluded to steal the Sh15 billion in under 26 minutes.

Malala now wants Uhuru and Raila to account for the money that was approved before the elections as he said that it was used to fund Azimio's campaigns.