Unaitas Sacco Society Limited is facing serious allegations of sexual harassment, staff victimisation and questionable management practices following a whistleblower complaint involving a senior manager who previously headed its Nakuru branch.
Confidential correspondence seen by this publication contains a series of allegations against Joseph Thiong’o, who is accused by the complainant of presiding over a hostile working environment while serving as Branch Manager in Nakuru.
According to the complaint, which was reportedly forwarded to Unaitas management by a concerned relative of an employee, some staff members allegedly worked under an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.
The whistleblower alleges that employees were sometimes required to remain at work beyond 8:00 p.m. and report on Sundays. The complaint further claims that staff members who declined to accompany the manager for late-night drinking sessions risked being victimised.
More seriously, the complaint accuses Thiong’o of inappropriate conduct towards female employees, including alleged requests for sexual favours.
According to the whistleblower, female employees who allegedly rejected such advances feared transfers, unfavourable performance assessments or negative reports being made against them to the institution’s human resources department.
“Most of these ladies are married and some have since had issues with their partners courtesy of the branch manager,” the complaint alleges.
The whistleblower further accuses the manager of routinely using language considered inappropriate in a professional workplace, including allegedly referring to employees as “babe” and telling staff members to “grow balls.”
Questions Over Unaitas’ Response
Beyond the allegations against the manager, questions are also being raised over how Unaitas Sacco’s leadership handled the complaint.
The whistleblower claims that despite the seriousness of the issues raised, the institution did not formally acknowledge or adequately respond to the complaint.
Instead, the complainant alleges that some employees believed to have raised concerns were subsequently transferred, creating fears among staff that speaking out could attract retaliation.
The whistleblower has also questioned Thiong’o’s reported elevation to a more senior role, alleging that he was promoted to Head of Branch Banking and Consumer Lending despite the complaints surrounding his tenure at the Nakuru branch.
If confirmed, the circumstances surrounding the promotion could raise questions about whether the allegations were investigated, whether Thiong’o was given an opportunity to respond and what conclusions, if any, were reached by the Sacco’s management.
Wider Governance Questions
The complaint comes against the backdrop of previous public scrutiny surrounding governance and management at Unaitas.
However, previous controversies involving the Sacco should not automatically be treated as evidence supporting the current allegations against Thiong’o. Each allegation requires independent scrutiny and verification.
The latest complaint nevertheless raises broader questions about the effectiveness of internal mechanisms for reporting sexual harassment, workplace misconduct and alleged retaliation.
It also raises questions about what safeguards Unaitas has put in place to protect employees who make complaints against senior managers.
Possible Legal Action
According to information provided to this publication, legal action is being considered over the handling of the complaint and the manager’s reported promotion.
Kenyan employment law provides protections against sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, while employers have responsibilities regarding the handling of complaints and the protection of employees.
Any court proceedings would provide an avenue for the allegations, the evidence supporting them and responses from the accused parties to be subjected to legal scrutiny.
For now, the claims remain allegations contained in a whistleblower complaint and have not been determined by a court or other competent authority.
This publication has sought responses from Unaitas Sacco and Joseph Thiong’o regarding the allegations, including questions about whether an internal investigation was conducted and the circumstances surrounding his reported promotion.
Their responses will be incorporated into this story when received.
Anyone with additional information or documentation concerning the allegations may contact this newsroom. The identities of confidential sources will be protected in accordance with journalistic standards.
