Magazine
Goldenburg: Story of a whistleblower
Chairman of the Goldenberg Commission Justice Samuel Bosire hands over the findings to President Mwai Kibaki in March. Photo/FILE
Posted Monday, August 3 2009 at 00:00
We would go out of work and socialise. We were very intimate. I could tell him these things.
Jamasai said to me, “These transactions are illegal. It’s common sense: Where does gold and diamonds come from in Kenya to warrant these millions? Please be careful.”
Apart from another man, Kiambati, who was also a friend, the atmosphere in the office was not very free.
They [Munyakei’s bosses] were a bit aloof.
They were my bosses and they used to keep to themselves very much. Maybe by virtue of knowing what was going on.
They were not open. Jamasai was very open. They behaved like they didn’t care.
Everything happened for a long time, about one year. After 1992 elections this thing became very rampant and became open stealing.
I said no. I’d never told anyone, not even my brother.
The only person I discussed this issue with was Onyango Jamasai and he was a stickler to the rules and regulations within the banking procedures. I could go to him and I liked him because he would tell me “Munyakei this is wrong, and this is right.”
Jamasai was a very diligent man.
If something is wrong he could tell you to your face… And you know we were young and wanted to build our careers.
We were aiming high and Onyango Jamasai was one of the people we would go to.
I knew he was one of the people who could build somebody young like me. You cannot be built by somebody who is dishonest.
From High School I was given leadership because I was honest and very loyal. There was no way I could do anything wrong.
After 1992 elections things went haywire and there were no rules, no regulations.
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