A section of Northeastern members of parliament have accused former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua of ethnic profiling and spreading false information.

The former deputy president is at the center of the storm with the Somali community after he alleged that the famous BBS mall was constructed from the proceeds of the alleged Minnesota fraud scandal that saw over $300 million diverted from the intended purpose of feeding the vulnerable during the covid pandemic to the pockets of individuals who had Kenyan links.

The allegations, which Northeastern MPs have refuted, have called for the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to intervene and investigate Gachagua.

Led by the Daadab Member of Parliament Farah Maalim, the MPs stated that the hostility against the Somali community in Kenya had reached worrying levels and accused the former DP of spreading fear and discrimination.

“Linking the BBS mall to Minnesota fraud is baseless. BBS is a legal investment and the owners are globally respected businessmen. the land upon which the mall seats was acquired long even before President Ruto become deputy president and it took many years to complete; construction started 2018, before Ruto was president,” said the Dadaab constituency MP.

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka defended Gachagua following condemnations from the MPs and urged the focus of the conversation to be on fighting economic crime and highlighted that if there is any evidence of laundered money entering Kenya, it should be investigated.