Bishop David Kariuki Ngari alias Gakuyo (left), former Kabete MP and now
Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and former Thika Town MP Alice
Ng’ang’a in 2017 during Jubilee campaigns. Mr Gakuyo rode on Jubilee
wave to popularise Ekeza Sacco. FILE PHOTO | NMG
‘Man of God’ David Kariuki Ngari, aka Gakuyo, rode on religion
and Jubilee Party’s 2017 political wave to recruit Ekeza Sacco members.
But
little did the 78,000 members whose savings hit Sh2.5 billion in the
same year know the Calvary Chosen Centre founding bishop would spend
every penny saved to buy properties to spruce his lifestyle.
He
moved from Makongeni, Thika, where he occupied a two-bedroomed house,
to the leafy Nyari Estate near the United Nations offices in Gigiri
where residential units generally go for about Sh200 million.
The
property located within the premium blue zone recommended for
expatriates and diplomats is an eight-bedroomed house with a detached
servant quarters and a private swimming pool as well as a parking lot
for at least five cars.
He also invested the proceeds
in an expansive farm in Kabati in Murang’a County that boasts of an
active building stones quarry, Lilies Hotel in Juja as well as Thika’s
Salama House and operated Swift Breeze Hardware shop along Garissa Road,
Thika.
These are some of the properties that he wants
auctioned to raise the Sh1 billion he is accused of siphoning from Ekeza
Sacco to refund members’ cash.
During 2017 campaigns, Mr Gakuyo, Governor Ferdinand Waititu,
his running mate James Nyoro became co-principals for the anti-Kabogo
‘United for Kiambu’ camp where they spent nights and days at Lilies
Hotel laying strategies to oust Kabogo.
The leaders
included Woman Rep Gathoni wa Muchomba, MPs Kimani Ichun’gwa (Kikuyu),
Githua wa Machukuru (Kabete), Jonah Mburu (Lari), Jude Njomo (Kiambu
Town), Kago wa Lydia (Githunguri), N’gan’ga King’ara (Ruiru) and Stephen
Ndichu (Speaker).
Others in the team were Karungo wa
Thang’wa who failed to clinch the senatorial seat, former Thika MP Alice
N’gan’ga and 80 per cent of ward representatives.
Gakuyo
spent heavily on advertisements to popularise Ekeza during Jubilee
meetings that were aired live thereby enabling the United for Kiambu
team sweep almost all seats in the county.
But he kept
his faith as a ‘Man of God’ often leading his faithfuls to secluded
areas within his ‘farms’ to fast and pray for riches and good health.
This message was regularly emphasised every Sunday during sermons
broadcast on eight television stations across the country and on the
Internet.
As his following grew, Ekeza transferred
monies received to Gakuyo Real Estate that were spent on buying large
tracts of land and subdivided for resale to members as residential
plots, an endeavour that proved popular with the masses.
Earlier,
Gakuyo had announced his intention to vie for the gubernatorial seat
but dropped his bid to support governor Waititu after queries about his
theological doctorate emerged.
It earned him the name
Gakuyo and the ensuing Jubilee-Ekeza campaigns wooed more members and
cash. Then, governor Kabogo loudly protested against the fast rise of
Ekeza warning residents of the dangers of following Gakuyo but this only
made United for Kiambu more popular as the masses believed the ‘Man of
God’.
“My political detractors are envious of my
development schemes. Mr Kabogo hurts the poor by failing to ensure
proper management of Kiambu hospital and is killing businesses by
increasing licence fees,” he said on November 9, 2016 when he launched
his candidature.
And with his involvement in Jubilee
politics, Gakuyo appeared to enjoy State protection and approval needed
to attract money from elderly women, shamba boys, house girls, bus
conductors, hawkers, boda boda operators, peasant farmers as well as
other small traders, private and public sector employees.
After
the elections, Mr Gakuyo was rewarded with a job as Kiambu Governor’s
economic adviser where he moves around in a top-of-the range utility
vehicles often escorted by county askaris in a chase car.
But
no one has questioned his integrity to hold public office amid rising
complaints of Ekeza’s inability to meet members’ demands.
“What
I am doing now, is to sell whatever I have so that everybody who saved
in the Ekeza can get their money back … as of today, we have refunded
Sh200 million to members and I will continued refunding,” he told
members who had stormed his church during a Sunday service.
The
Co-operative ministry probe has revealed repayments of Sh116 million
were made to 2,000 members using proceeds received from diehard Gakuyo
followers who continued saving with the dying sacco and loan repayments.
Trade
Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya has since opposed Gakuyo’s plan to sell
his assets saying it is a ploy to conceal his heinous acts.
Gakuyo
was last Friday branded a swindler who fleeced people billions of
shillings but the probe fell short of recommending criminal prosecution
against him as well as State officials — police, co-operative officials
and the entire county administration for culpable negligence.
Ekeza
was never a sacco per se but a one-man show that saw Gakuyo appoint
Calvary Chosen Centre administrator James Kimani Ekeza’s vice-chairman
who also doubled as his personal assistant.
This earned
Mr Kimani a Sh80,000 monthly salary from Ekeza despite him having no
defined role in its operations while then Ekeza chief executive Gladys
Mureithi doubled as the board secretary and CEO.
“Gakuyo,
Mr Kimani and Ms Mureithi withdrew money from Ekeza for onward delivery
to Mr Gakuyo’s home. Part of it was reportedly spent on Gakuyo projects
but no details have been provided on the same,” said a report by
liquidator-receiver managers, Mr Stephen Njoroge (assistant director for
co-operative audit) and Mr Philip Uluma (principal co-operative
officer).
Mr Gakuyo has since filed a case against Ms
Mureithi accusing her of forgery and fraudulently obtaining a title deed
as well as stealing a Sh6 million vehicle belonging to the preacher.
Only
time will tell if Kiambu people will act decisively against political
leaders who supported Ekeza to become a behemoth that chewed their
hard-earned cash.
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