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Fransis Owino, a prominent activist and the president of Bunge la Mwananchi, has formally petitioned Solomon Angusto Atiaya, the CEO of the Kenya National Police SACCO, over alleged illegal activities and mismanagement within the organization. In his petition, Owino has raised serious concerns about financial irregularities, nepotism, and the violation of national governance principles.
The petition highlights a series of questionable expenditures and actions by the SACCO’s leadership. According to Owino, in October 2023, CEO Atiaya authorized a staggering KSh 16.9 million for a tree-planting initiative. Owino argues that this amount is disproportionately high and indicative of broader financial mismanagement within the SACCO. He further alleges that there have been exorbitant budget allocations across various departments, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), marketing, and legal, without clear justification.
Owino has also called for a comprehensive lifestyle audit of the SACCO’s board members, citing concerns that their lifestyle and spending habits may not align with their official earnings. Additionally, the activist has accused the CEO of engaging in acts of nepotism. He claims that CEO Atiaya facilitated the employment of Timothy Okumu, the brother of Director John Okumu, within the SACCO, a move that Owino says undermines the integrity of the institution.
To address these issues, Owino has urged the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to intervene and conduct a thorough investigation. He believes that the removal of the current leadership, including the CEO and board members, is the only viable solution to restore trust and integrity within the SACCO. Furthermore, Owino has called for the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Cooperatives (KUSCO) and the National Police SACCO to declare the chairperson’s position vacant, as a step towards re-establishing good governance practices.
The petition has sparked significant concern among SACCO members and the public, with many calling for transparency and accountability from the leadership of one of Kenya’s most prominent cooperative societies. The outcome of this petition and any subsequent investigations by the EACC will be closely watched as they could have far-reaching implications for the governance of SACCOs across the country.
