Following several data scandals, a whistleblower from Absa Kenya’s Timiza digital credit department has come forward, revealing rampant data theft and corruption within the institution.
These revelations come just after investigations by Absa itself and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) into misconduct within the financial giant.
The whistleblower has named Christine Marandu, Head of Credit, and Chiera Waithaka, Credit Risk, as key figures perpetuating data abuse within Timiza.
Timiza, allegedly led by Elkana Momanyi, has been accused of illegally collecting customer data from their phones without consent since 2023.
This data includes SMS content, sensitive financial information, and personal messages, all of which are sent to a third-party server, PNGME, where it is not anonymized.
Some employees reportedly read private messages for amusement.
Despite staff raising concerns, Elkana Momanyi allegedly dismissed the issue.
The whistleblower accuses Timiza’s technical lead, Collins Ouma, of acquiring over 100,000 customer data points for personal use, and claims Chiera Waithaka explored ways to monetize this data during a meeting.
Dissatisfied with Absa’s internal reporting systems, which allegedly involved intimidation and obstruction, the whistleblower went public, revealing that evidence of these practices could be found in Absa’s emails, network drives, and the Timiza app’s terms and conditions.
These revelations add to a growing list of complaints against Absa Kenya, including insider fraud, sexual harassment, and other unethical practices.
The CBK and Absa South Africa have both launched investigations into the bank following multiple complaints.
An anonymous source exposed widespread corruption, including instances of sexual favors, employee manipulation, and suspicious deaths, like the one involving Oscar Owino at the Nyali branch.
Additionally, Absa’s data center in Westlands has been implicated in stealing customer records, including credit card details, and selling them on the black market.
Employees, including those at branch levels, have been accused of manipulating sales figures for personal profit.
The Timiza product itself is riddled with fraud, with leaders Elkana Momanyi and Steve Omamo reportedly involved in disputes that have led to high employee turnover.
Significant sums, such as Ksh 180 million in 2018 and Ksh 20 million in 2022, were lost due to loan defaults tied to known individuals.
Moreover, the whistleblower claims that forensic officials often demand bribes to bury fraud investigations.
One executive is said to be under investigation for their involvement in the Ksh 179 million heist from Equity Bank.
Senior Absa staff have also been acquiring the bank’s properties at devalued prices, using inside information.
For instance, Chief Finance Officer Yusuf Omar allegedly acquired the Bamburi Absa branch property at a fraction of its value.
Omar is not the only one implicated; Wycliff Makori, a Mombasa-based employee, has been accused of leaking sensitive client data.
Other staff members, including Elizabeth Irungu, Ruth Kamengere, Moses Muthui, and Steve Omamo, are also involved in unethical activities, jeopardizing numerous assets across Kenya.
It’s clear that Absa Kenya is facing serious internal issues, with corruption, fraud, and data theft rampant within the organization.
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