Nine employees of Njiwa Savings and Credit Cooperative Society have been arrested in connection with the disappearance of approximately KES 160 million from the sacco, Kenyan authorities announced Saturday.
The suspects, who worked for a SACCO that serves employees of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), were detained following a joint investigation by detectives and officials from the spy agency, according to a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Among those arrested were Amos Kipchumba, Njiwa’s internal auditor; Violet Wali, the loans manager; Caren Langat, the accountant; and systems analysts Hamisi Zaunga and Miriam Nthenya. Also arrested were teller Nicodemus Osiemo, Eric Rono of Sure-step Systems, NIS officer Moses Ntoinya and former SACCO employee Tony Wabomba.
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“The 9 who have since been dismissed from the SACCO face nine counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, stealing by servant, false accounting by servant, negligence, computer fraud, forgery, uttering a false document, access with intent to commit an offence among other charges,” the DCI statement said.
They are expected to be charged in court Monday. Authorities are searching for three additional suspects accused of involvement in the high-level fraud.
“The agencies involved in the investigation of this high level fraud shall continue to investigate and expose corrupt individuals and networks, while taking concrete steps to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public entities,” the DCI statement said.
Officials did not provide details about how the funds were allegedly stolen. But the case highlights ongoing concerns about corruption and mismanagement within Kenya’s many credit unions and savings cooperatives.
