Police lob teargas to disperse protesting Ekeza Sacco members outside DCI HQs on Kiambu road

DCI meeting with Ekeza Sacco members turns chaotic

Mumbi Mutuko

March 18, 2019 12:58 PM

Police intervene with force

Police use teargas to disperse protestors

A planned meeting between Kenyans who claim to have been scammed by Ekeza Sacco and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations turned chaotic after the members were turned away.

Police fired teargas canisters to disperse Ekeza Sacco members who blocked Kiambu road during their protests.

Thousands of members had turned up after they were asked by the DCI to lodge their complaints about the scam at the controversial organization.

DCI meeting with Ekeza Sacco members turns chaotic Pulse Live Kenya

DCI lacked plan- residents

Residents complained that they had arrived as early as 6am on Monday morning but the DCI had not put in a plan on how to handle the large droves of Kenyans who turned up.

DCI had scheduled sessions with Nairobi and Kiambu residents with fraud complaints against Gakuyo Real Estate, Ekeza Sacco and Gakuyo Investment Club.

Members of the three organizations were asked to carry documents supporting the claims of dealings.

Siphoning more than Sh1 billion

"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.

Huge turn out at DCI offices by Ekeza Sacco members Pulse Live Kenya

Gakuyo is accused of siphoning more than Sh1 billion belonging to 78,000 members, mostly peasants, of the troubled Ekeza Savings and Credit Cooperative Society.

He is said to have started an investors’ club at Gakuyo Real Estate, where he and his wife Hannah Wachu are co-directors.

According to investigators, Gakuyo asked Kenyans to invest their money to help the company run the business and in return reap a two per cent monthly interest.

Mumbi Mutuko