“Accept & Move On,” Kenyans React To Britam’s Scandal With Ex-Employees

By Jane Okoth

One of the stories making headlines in the corporate world today is the rise of crime curbing the industry.

In a story published by the Daily Nation, former managers of British-American Investment Company, BRITAM have been charged with alleged fraudulent transfer of more than sh3 billion from the company.

Edward Kirathe and Peter Ndung’u, who are Acorn Group’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer respectively, argued through lawyer John Ohaga that arresting, prosecuting or charging them on the basis of the dispute with Britam was a violation of their rights, oppressive and intended to achieve an ulterior motive.

To what extent would employees go just to defraud a company?

“The company is just acting desperate on the former employees. They cannot stomach the fact that their very own employees have managed to form another company that is competing against them,” says Tom Bwire, a Senior Manager at a leading financial institution.

“This is typical behavior of all employers in Kenya. For some reason they never want you to grow and if you are lucky enough to, they will ensure that your life is a living hell,” he opines.

“The same situation applies with these BRITAM employers because their accusations are outrageous and baseless,” he opines.

Mark Wanjala seems to agree with the idea and is also quick at faulting the employer for not treating his employees in the right and professional manner.

“It is quite clear that the company did not invest much in the staff welfare. If he did, a situation like this would not have occurred,” he argues.

He also says that “Employees are also human beings and have to be treated in a way that shows they matter to the company.”

“I totally disagree on all these opinions that tend to side with the employees and fault the employer,” says Irene Musimbi, a Secretary at Government institution.

Her conclusion is that “These are just selfish, unsatisfied and unethical employees seeking to profit themselves from the company which they worked for in the first place.”

“The company did not just come up with the accusations overnight and take them to court without having sufficient evidence,” she adds.

“As much as I do encourage the need to grow and develop career wise, it needs to be done in a respectable and professional manner,” she opines.

Mary Muli, a Business graduate at a Public University also seems to agree with Irene’s opinion.

“I second that opinion because this is an act of crime disguised as competition.

The newly formed companies seem to have made a lot of money over a short period of time which proves suspicious,” she says.

“If I was in the shoes of Britam I would do the same thing and take them to court,” she concludes.

Tom further adds that “Britam needs to accept and move on with their former employees. chasing them around in court battles is not going to help them at all.”

In your views, do you think the former employees are guilty?

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