Bishop David Gakuyo to Remain in Office as Court Blocks New Ekeza Sacco Managers from Taking Over

A Nairobi court has issued temporary orders barring the Commissioner of Co-operative Development from instating the new managers at Ekeza Sacco.

In the directive, Senior Resident Magistrate M.W.Murage has blocked the removal from office the current Ekeza Sacco's management committee led by founder and chairman Bishop David Kariuki Ngare alias Gakuyo.

The orders come after a section of Ekeza Sacco members filed a petition to stop the Commissioner for Co-operatives Mary Mungai from installing the new management.

The Sacco was shut down last year following complaints that it was sharing office space and bank accounts with Gakuyo Real Estate Company.

An investigation ordered by the Co-operatives ministry established that Gakuyo and his wife withdrew Sh1.5 billion from Ekeza to their personal account.

A report by a team appointed by Ms. Mungai last December to audit the Sacco found out that the transactions happened between 2015 and 2017.

Sh88 million was withdrawn in 2015, Sh850 million in 2016 and Sh625 million in 2017.

Gakuyo and other Ekeza officials have since been questioned by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) over the scandal.