The Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Kisii West Branch is facing mounting scrutiny following disturbing allegations that its branch manager colluded with a senior-ranking police officer to unlawfully deny a woman access to her own bank account.
The victim, identified as 29-year-old businesswoman Anastaciah Obuba, is said to have endured months of harassment, humiliation, and financial isolation as a result of the bank’s actions and the abuse of power by her influential brother.
According to a detailed complaint, Obuba, who has been running a business and faithfully banking with KCB for over five years, fell out with her brother after revealing she was in a relationship.
What began as a simple family disagreement reportedly escalated into a calculated campaign of intimidation.
The brother, said to hold a senior position in the police service, allegedly used his connections to control Obuba’s access to her inheritance and finances.
He reportedly convinced the KCB Kisii West Branch manager, a close friend of his, to take possession of her identification and ATM cards and block her account from any transactions.
This blatant abuse of authority reached its peak on October 27, 2025, when Obuba, in desperate need of cash for basic needs such as food and sanitary products, visited the bank in person.
She was directed to the manager’s office, where she was once again denied access to her own funds.
The action left her stranded, humiliated, and without means to support herself a move that raises serious questions about KCB’s internal controls, ethics, and accountability.
The incident exposes a disturbing picture of how personal connections and power can override banking laws and human decency. No bank official, regardless of their position, has the legal right to confiscate a customer’s documents or block account access without a formal court order.
Obuba’s ordeal extends beyond the banking hall. Reports suggest she was detained in her brother’s compound, stripped of communication, and subjected to psychological torture.
Unknown individuals allegedly interrogated and threatened her, demanding information about her boyfriend.
The situation deteriorated to the point of severe health consequences, as she developed high blood pressure from the trauma.
Ironically, her brother the alleged instigator is now in critical condition after a recent road accident.
Yet, justice for Obuba remains elusive. Questions linger about how a respected financial institution like KCB could allow such unethical conduct to happen within its walls.
There is no known KCB policy that allows a relative to interfere with an account holder’s funds, and any such action constitutes a serious breach of banking regulations.
The case has sparked outrage among Kisii residents and raised wider concerns about the safety of women’s financial rights in Kenya. It is a stark reminder that banks must uphold integrity and protect customers from exploitation, no matter who their relatives are. KCB’s silence or inaction in this case would amount to complicity in abuse.
This case will go down as one of the most shameful stains on the bank’s reputation, one that calls for immediate investigation and accountability from top management.
Anastaciah Obuba’s cry for justice remains a chilling example of how easily institutions meant to protect can become instruments of oppression when power, corruption, and negligence collide.
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