Petition filed for removal of Police Sacco CEO
Human rights defender, Concerned Citizen Kenya has lodged a petition for the removal of the Kenya Police Sacco CEO over mismanagement, nepotism, and fraudulent payments.
In his petition before Justice Chacha Mwita, Francis Owino accused the Sacco CEO Angusta Atsiaya spent between Sh9-16 million during the national tree planting day which he says is very high.
“In October 2023, the respondent spent a total of Sh16/9 million for a tree planting exercise at the DCI headquarters begging the question; how would a tree planting exercise attract such a colossal amount of money.” The petition stated.
Awino asked the court to authorize a forensic audit to be conducted on the CSR programmers sanctioned by Angusta.
He revealed that the CEO failed to reveal to the Sacco members the amount that was used in the construction of the police Sacco stadium in South B and the Gymnasium in Kiganjo raising a lot of queries on fraudulent spending.
“The Respondent has failed to disclose to the Sacco members of the costs attendant to the construction of the Police Sacco Stadium in South B. Gymnasium construction at National Police Sacco Kiganjo among others that have been undertaken by the Respondent.” He stated.
The petition claimed the lifestyle of the board members together with the CEO does not march their salaries at the Sacco which he said raises questions on the spending of Sacco money.
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The Petitioner stated that there have been exorbitant budgetary allocations in many areas including allocations for vote heads in Education, CSR’s, Marketing and Legal departments of the Saccos.
“In addition to the foregoing, there has also been exorbitant budgetary allocation for the vote head for the purchase of Anti-Virus for the M-Tawi system hence the need for a forensic audit of the financial position of the Sacco.” He said in his petition.
“There are documented instances where the Respondent has flagrantly wasted Sacco members’ monies all in a bid to get kickbacks for his own personal gains and that of his cronies. The respondent sanctioned the setting up and acquisition of a banking system known as M-Tawi Banking system that was purchased at an exorbitant value of Sh 600M and attracting Sh 300M as yearly maintenance costs for the system.” Awino explained in his petition.
He added that the failure of M-Tawi raises questions on the integrity of the system and whether the CEO has helped Sacco in any way.
Further, the petitioner accused the Police Sacco CEO of facilitating acts of nepotism at the senior management level where he oversaw the employment of his nuclear family members, relatives, and his cronies and those of the board directors.
“To name but a few, the petitioner states that the respondent has aided in the employment of Timothy Okumu who is a brother to a Director named John Okumu. Beatrice Awino who works in the accounts department is the daughter-in-law of the chairman Mategwa who is related to Isabella Masinde a Board Director among an avalanche of other employees.” The petition stated.
He urged the court to intervene and take appropriate actions against the CEO over his acts.
Awino further called for the removal of Atsiaya from office saying he does not meet Chapter Six of the constitution threshold adding that he has been grossly violating the constitution.
Atsiaya is expected to file his responses to the case in the next fourteen days with the mention of the case being set on November 5, 2024.
This comes even as a section of Police Sacco Members led by Michael Orita, Gregory Ogola, Robert Odongo and thousands of others officially wrote to the Sacco Society Regulatory Authority (SASSRA) to intervene and ensure a forensic audit on M-tawi is done.
They also called for the forensic audit of the current financial status of police Sacco and the lifestyle audit to be done on the Board of Directors, CEO, and other senior officials of the Sacco.
Further, the Sacco members called on SASSRA to investigate the issue of nepotism among the senior officials of Police Sacco with them calling on the audit of the CSR programs.
The members believe there has been wanton flaunting of the by-laws of the Sacco saying that the board and the management have made a habit of violating the by-laws of the Sacco without any regard for good principles of good governance, accountability, and democracy.
“Sections 50, 51, and 52 of the Sacco Societies Act grant SASSRA the authority to intervene in the manner requested matter this and address all the grievances and complaints raised. We expect that SASSRA will exercise its mandate under the Sacco Societies Act without any extraneous influence considering the gravity of the matter under consideration.” They said in a letter to SASSRA.
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