- Nine individuals are facing charges over an alleged financial scheme involving a major Sacco.
- The case involves allegations of manipulated transactions, fictitious loans and unauthorised withdrawals.
- The accused are out on cash bail as the prosecution prepares to present its case.
Nine people face a charge of conspiracy to defraud Eco-Pillar Sacco Society Limited of Ksh260,008,100 between 2018 and 2025, according to a police charge sheet dated October 29, 2026.
Members of Savings and Credit Co-operative Organisations (Saccos) entrust their savings to the institutions, and they expect that money to be protected by strict financial controls and transparent management. The charge, brought under Section 317 of the Penal Code, is an allegation that the court has yet to test. The accused are presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty.
The charge sheet names the accused as Fredrick Kaptui Plimo, Linus Lokira, Paul Lokitari Ywapamoi, Leonard Pchakasan Domoita, Nicholas Toroitich Arusho, Andrew Poriot Lorema, Susan Chesang, Florence Chemotwo and Francis Atodosia.
It is alleged in court documents that the scheme involved manipulation of the Sacco Link transaction systems, creation of fraudulent accounts, fictitious loans and unauthorised withdrawals into personal bank accounts.
Separate particulars allege abuse of office against Plimo and Lokira, who are identified in the case material as Sacco officials. The allegations fall under Section 101 as read with Section 102(1) of the Penal Code. The prosecution alleges that funds were diverted to personal bank and mobile money accounts, and that junior employees were allegedly pressured, under threat of termination, to surrender their automated teller machine (ATM) cards and personal identification numbers (PINs).
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The abuse of office allegations are distinct from the conspiracy charge facing all nine accused. The documents available do not show that every person named in the conspiracy count took part in every alleged act. They also do not give the precise transactions or amounts tied to the abuse of office allegations.
Further, although the charge sheet cites Ksh260,008,100, it provides no transaction-by-transaction breakdown. It also does not indicate how much, if any, each accused person is alleged to have received.
The charge sheet lists the Sacco as the complainant through the State. It also names several proposed prosecution witnesses. However, the list does not show what each of them will testify to.
The charge sheet records August 8, 2026, as the date of arrest and October 29, 2026, as the date the matter was reported to court. It indicates that the accused were arrested without warrants and are out on cash bail. The court file number was not completed on the copy provided, and the document does not show whether any pleas have been taken. Efforts to reach the accused or their legal representatives for comment were not immediately successful.
The prosecution must prove the charges against each individual, and the defence will be free to challenge the evidence.
By Hillary Muhalya
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