In a recent article, I opined that Gukena FM breakfast radio presenter Njogu Wa Njoroge had been vindicated following the release of Ekeza Sacco inquiry report that finds the Sacco's founder Bishop David Ngari culpable of financial misappropriation that led to its near collapse.
Two years ago when rumours started milling around that the Sacco was in a financial crisis and nearly insolvent, Njogu took to his widely followed Facebook page to sound a warning to all members who had their savings at Ekeza.
"If you go you are told to wait for 3 months. After 3 months hakuna pesa. But wale wanaitisha na fujo kuna kidogo wanapewa. If you have your money in Ekeza, rush and get your money back! Don't be told to wait for 6 months. And I know what I'm talking about! You will thank me later. Ekeza is going down...down...downnnnnnnnn," Njogu wrote on his Facebook page then.
As such, one can only be forced to think that Njoroge, whom some Sacco members had accused of using his position in the society to tarnish Gakuyo's name, has been vindicated after the report that was released on Thursday echoed his then allegations.
"So we can say the money Gakuyo owes members is about Sh1 billion. This is the money he took illegally and without any approval of the members, and it is the money we want him to pay," said Stephen Njoroge, one of the appointed liquidator-receiver.
However, there are those who argue that Njogu cannot play a whistleblower.
"He should shut up and leave us to mourn our loss in peace. Wasn't he the one who was telling us every morning how to save with Ekeza Sacco and the benefits we were bound to get," a Thika town business lady and a victim who asked not to be named said on Monday.
Another victim from the same area who identified himself only as Patrick says that he was able to salvage half of his savings courtesy of Njogu's Facebook rantings.
"I saw the post on Facebook after a fellow member at the Sacco alerted me. I went to the Sacco branch here in Thika the following morning and I was able to withdraw half of my savings before the Sacco was put under receivership," he said.
Martin Mwaura, a hardware owner in Makongeni, Thika who notes that he almost fell into the 'trap' of joining the cash-strapped Sacco notes that Njogu cannot share part of the blame as "he was just doing the work that his employer had assigned him".
In the 2017 Facebook post, Njoroge had admitted to having supported the bishop before he declared interest in active politics.
"Gakuyo I stood with you and even endorsed you. But the minute uliingia siasa, ukachukua pesa za Ekeza Sacco ukapeleka kule, that's when I parted ways with you," read Njoroge's post in part.
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