Police Teargas Disgruntled Ekeza Sacco Members
Protesting Ekeza Sacco members were treated to a tearful Monday morning after they paralyzed transport at the Kiambu Road where they had been called to record statements with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
The members are protesting the loss of more than Ksh1 billion which they had invested with Ekeza Sacco, ‘owned’ by Bishop David Ngari alias Gakuyo.
Last week, the DCI invited the members to record statements with them over the loss.
In a statement on Wednesday, the DCI noted that it had received “numerous” complaints against these organisations.
The agency asked of the sacco to report to its headquarters on Kiambu Road at 9 a.m. on March 18 with the documents supporting claims of dealings.
“Carry with you bank statements showing withdrawal and deposit agreements, deposit slips, receipts and any other document relevant to the dealings,” John Kariuki said in the statement, on behalf of DCI boss George Kinoti.
However, upon arrival today, the members said that they were turned away, prompting the protest.
“We closed all our business and came here (at DCI HQ) to record a statement only to be turned away”. We came here armed with all documents, and now we are being told that the people from Nairobi to come another day to record statement, this is unfair. Our children are not going to school, we want Interior CS Fred Matiangí to address us since we have lost faith in DCI,” said a disgruntled member.
A audit report commissioned by the commissioner of Cooperatives Mary Mungai last December indicated that Gakuyo has irregularly transferred Ksh1.5 billion from the troubled Savings and Credit Co-operative Society to his personal account.
He reportedly transferred the money between 2015 and 2017. The report shows Gakuyo transferred Ksh88 million in 2015, Ksh850 million in 2016 and Ksh625 million in 2017.
Of the Ksh1.5 billion, Ksh507 million was loaned to some Ekeza Sacco members who wanted to own homes under Chosen Green City.