Activists call for independent investigations into alleged customer confidentiality breaches, financial transactions and internal misconduct at Absa Bank Kenya
A Mombasa lobby group has staged a protest demanding investigations into alleged misconduct by officials of Absa Bank Kenya, including claims of customer data breaches, abuse of office and irregular financial transactions.
The protesters want the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to examine how the bank handled customer information, complaints and internal investigations and determine whether any employees breached banking, data protection or other regulatory requirements.
They have also called for legal action against any officials found culpable following investigations.
The protest comes as Busia Senator Andrew Okiya Omtatah Okoiti separately pushes the CBK and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate allegations involving Absa officials.
In letters dated September 17, 2026 and received by the CBK and DCI on September 21, Omtatah requested investigations into alleged unlawful payments, customer confidentiality breaches and other alleged misconduct involving bank officials.
The complaints are linked to a long-running dispute between Absa Bank Kenya and New Mega Africa Limited, a road haulage company involved in Mombasa Commercial Case No. E068 of 2022.
Omtatah wants the CBK to establish whether regulatory breaches occurred, while the DCI examines allegations that could amount to criminal offences.
Alleged financial transactions
Among the issues raised are alleged payments involving banking services and claims that confidential financial information belonging to New Mega Africa was disclosed to third parties.
Omtatah has asked investigators to examine bank and M-Pesa records, internal investigation files, credit documents and communications relevant to the complaints.
He has also called for scrutiny of Absa’s systems for handling customer complaints, whistleblowing reports, anti-bribery controls and data protection.
One of the officials named in the documents is Wycliffe Makori.
The complaints cite allegations concerning financial transactions involving Makori and New Mega Africa officials, as well as claims surrounding the handling of confidential customer information.
According to the documents, some of the alleged payments ranged from Sh2,000 to more than Sh500,000 and were allegedly made through M-Pesa, bank transfers and cash.
One alleged transaction involved Sh100,000 paid to Evelyn Essendi, identified in the documents as Makori’s wife, in connection with a temporary overdraft request involving a Sh3 million disbursement.
Another alleged Sh40,000 payment is linked to Makori and a Tororo transaction involving a Sh2.56 million disbursement.
The documents also allege that Makori received Sh51,000 from a company director in connection with insurance for a vehicle jointly registered in the name of the bank and the officer.
Omtatah’s complaint cites witness statements in which Makori acknowledged several financial transactions involving himself and the company’s director but described them as personal or friendly transactions.
Makori has denied allegations that he coerced New Mega Africa into lending Sh820,000 to another Absa client, Buzz Afrique, and also denied receiving a commission from the transaction.
The allegations have not been independently established.
Data breach allegations
The protest has also renewed focus on claims that confidential information belonging to New Mega Africa was allegedly disclosed to third parties without the company’s knowledge or consent.
According to the complaint, the company’s director claimed that a supplier and a customer confronted him with Absa correspondence and a bank statement showing the company’s overdrawn position.
The complaint also refers to a witness statement by Evans Murumba Wekesa, a former Absa Sector Head for Business Banking in the Coast Region.
According to the documents, Wekesa’s statement indicates that Makori made a telephone call to Jared Makori of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) concerning New Mega Africa’s financial difficulties.
The documents state that Makori later acknowledged making the call following a meeting with the company and that the matter was subsequently escalated within Absa.
Omtatah argues that the alleged disclosure could amount to a breach of the duty of confidentiality under Section 31 of the Banking Act and applicable data protection requirements.
Other Absa employees named
The protesters have also cited other Absa employees in connection with separate complaints and disputes.
These include Lilian Adhiambo, described in the documents as a former Absa Karen Branch Manager. Material cited in the complaints alleges that she was dismissed over alleged gross misconduct involving unauthorised account access and suspected transactions.
The claims have not been independently established in the material provided.
Serah Muthui, an Absa Nyali Branch employee, is also mentioned in a separate complaint submitted to the bank’s senior management.
A February 14, 2024 letter addressed to Absa’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director was titled “Complaint Against Serah Muthui.”
The complaint, signed by Elizabeth Mulwa Kinyanjui, described a family dispute involving Muthui and Elias Kariuki Kawangi. It sought management intervention over allegations concerning Muthui’s alleged relationship with Kawangi.
The letter also referred to information allegedly contained in mobile phones and communications involving people connected to the dispute.
It was copied to several senior Absa officials, including the heads of Human Resources, Premium, Brand and Marketing, People and Culture and the Coast Region.
However, the complaint is not itself a finding of misconduct or criminal wrongdoing against Muthui, and the allegations have not been independently established.
Calls for independent investigations
The protesters want the CBK to establish whether Absa maintained adequate systems for handling customer complaints, whistleblowing reports, anti-bribery controls, data protection and the escalation of serious allegations.
Omtatah has separately asked the DCI to record statements from bank officials named in the complaints and obtain relevant M-Pesa and bank transfer records.
He has also requested Absa’s internal investigation records and credit files relating to New Mega Africa’s facilities.
Other requests include examination of call data records involving Makori and Jared Makori, interviews with the relevant KeNHA official and a review of Absa’s compliance systems.
Omtatah has further asked that the matter be considered by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner where their respective mandates apply.
The senator wants the CBK to determine whether regulatory breaches occurred and, if allegations are substantiated, consider appropriate action, including sanctions, penalties and compliance measures.
The complaint also questions an internal investigation conducted by Absa after the bank received additional information from New Mega Africa in September 2022.
According to Makori’s statement cited in the complaint, the investigation found no disclosure of New Mega Africa’s information to third parties and no wrongdoing by bank staff.
Omtatah has questioned aspects of that process, including the circumstances under which the investigation was conducted.
The latest protest adds pressure on regulators and law enforcement agencies to independently establish the facts surrounding the various complaints.
The allegations arise from separate complaints and an ongoing civil dispute between New Mega Africa Limited and Absa Bank Kenya PLC. They remain allegations pending investigations and determination by the relevant authorities or courts.
The documents cited in the complaints do not contain responses from the CBK or DCI confirming whether the requested investigations have commenced.
