A whistleblower from Absa Kenya’s Timiza digital credit department has exposed a widespread data theft scheme, implicating top executives in selling customer information on the black market.
The revelations come amid ongoing investigations by both Absa and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) into unethical practices at the bank. The latest accusations center on Christine Marandu (Head of Credit) and Chiera Waithaka (Credit Risk), who are accused of fostering a culture of data abuse within Timiza.
Absa Kenya Executives Accused of Selling Timiza Customer Data on the Black Market
Unauthorized Data Harvesting
The whistleblower, fearing retaliation but determined to expose the truth, claims that since 2023, Timiza has been illegally collecting customer data without consent.
- The app reportedly extracts SMS content, including financial transactions and personal messages.
- This data is allegedly sent to a third-party server (PNGME) without anonymization.
- Some employees are accused of reading private messages for amusement.
Despite internal complaints, Timiza’s alleged head, Elkana Momanyi, dismissed concerns, reinforcing suspicions of a well-orchestrated cover-up.
Data Sales and Exploitation
According to the whistleblower:
- Collins Ouma, Timiza’s technical lead, allegedly acquired over 100,000 customer records for personal use.
- Chiera Waithaka reportedly explored ways to monetize the stolen data during internal meetings.
- Financial data was exploited for targeted marketing and, in some cases, sold to other financial institutions.
Internal Complaints Suppressed
The whistleblower states that attempts to report these violations internally led to intimidation and obstruction. Evidence of the malpractice allegedly exists in:
- Absa’s internal emails
- Network drives
- The Timiza app’s terms and conditions
A Pattern of Misconduct
The scandal is not an isolated case but part of a larger trend of unethical behavior at Absa Kenya.
- Last week, CBK launched an investigation into multiple complaints against the bank, including sexual harassment, insider fraud, and other unethical practices.
- In 2023, an Absa South Africa probe was triggered by the frequency and severity of complaints from Kenyan branches.
- A source described a culture of bribery, sexual favors, and customer manipulation, implicating senior executives.
Suspicious Deaths and Fraudulent Transactions
The whistleblower also highlighted suspicious employee deaths linked to internal disputes:
- Oscar Owino, an employee at Absa Nyali branch, died under unclear circumstances in August 2023.
- Absa’s data center in Westlands, known as the Data Office, is accused of stealing and selling customer records, including credit card details and mobile banking information, for up to Ksh 1,000 per record.
- Sales employees allegedly manipulate customer data to inflate performance numbers for financial gain.
Timiza Loan App Frauds
The whistleblower further exposes fraud within the Timiza loan service:
- Elkana Momanyi and Steve Omamo, who lead Timiza, are reportedly embroiled in leadership wrangles, causing high employee turnover.
- Massive loan defaults linked to executives granting large, unsecured loans to insiders.
- In 2018, Ksh 180 million vanished, and in 2022, Ksh 20 million was lost under suspicious circumstances.
Bribery and Cover-Ups
When fraud is detected within Absa, forensic officials allegedly demand bribes to suppress investigations.
- One executive is currently under DCI investigation for links to the Equity Bank Ksh 179 million heist.
- Junior employees claim they are coerced into paying bribes for promotions or risk being sidelined.
Will These Investigations Lead to Change?
With the CBK and Absa South Africa investigating the allegations, the question remains:
Will this expose lead to meaningful reforms, or will it be another scandal buried under bureaucracy and corporate power?
For now, Kenyan banking customers are left wondering just how secure their data really is.
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