Aspiring North Imenti MP Carol Karimi Muriuki’s past interactions with her former employers – Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), Equity Bank and Gulf African Bank have been a subject of discussion among several Meru residents for a few months now.
Her political rivals have severally alleged that she ‘stole’ from her former employers, before joining the North Imenti race. Did she?
Court records indicate that on 17th July 2008, Carol Karimi Muriuki filed a complaint seeking terminal benefits for what she termed unfair dismissal.
Carol sought the court’s intervention in efforts to compel her then employer, Gulf African Bank Limited to compensate her for loss of earnings, one month’s salary in lieu of notice and leave pay, totaling to Ksh 79 million.
KCB Fraud Claims
It was in the Gulf African Bank case proceedings that more revelations were made concerning Ms. Karimi’s interactions with her former employer, the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).
The main argument by Gulf African Bank was that during Karimi’s probation period, it was discovered that she was sued by KCB for fraudulently obtaining a sum of Ksh 650,000 from the bank. (CMCC No. 1574 of 2006 – Milimani).
Kenya Commercial Bank also stated that Carol Karimi made various false imprest entries for the bank’s corporate events for the years 2004 and 2005. During her cross-examination, Carol confirmed that she was an employee of Kenya Commercial Bank between 2001 and 2005 as the Deputy Head of Corporate Affairs, Community Relations.
The Gulf African Bank also discovered that Ms. Karimi had left the Kenya Commercial Bank, and then switched to Equity Bank Ltd, only to quit that job in unclear circumstances.
Testifying before the court, Mr. Abdillahi Mutwafy, Head of Human Resources at Gulf African Bank stated that the information obtained from the Kenya Commercial Bank had come as a shock to the management.
Pursuant to this, the bank found Carol Karimi unfit to work for it and terminated her services during her probation period, a decision they maintain was proper and lawful. The bank asserted that Carol Muriuki could no longer be trusted with organizing events and dealing with suppliers. She was given an opportunity to resign, which she declined.
The bank finally terminated Carol’s contract, and paid her one month’s salary plus 22 pending leave days, a sum of Ksh 369,735, an amount she confirmed was remitted to her account.
Carol Karimi’s Response
In her response before the court, Carol Karimi maintained that the termination of her contract by the Gulf African Bank was unlawful, improper and irregular, and that she was discriminated against as a non-Muslim, and her position immediately occupied by a Muslim.
She however confirmed that the offer of employment at Gulf African bank was subject to receipt of satisfactory references from the referees provided. She also admitted that there was a pending court case brought against her by the Kenya Commercial Bank.
However, Carol maintained that she had informed the initial Chief Executive Officer of the Defendant bank, Dr. Nzibo, of the pending case.
Another issue emerging from the case was Carol’s academic qualifications. Although during her job application she had indicated that she had an MBA from the University of Nairobi, it was established that she had only done her coursework at the institution at that time. She however insisted that she never intended to mislead her employer in that regard.
The case was heard and determined by Justice Muga Apondi on May 10 2010, who dismissed the petition by Carol Karimi Muriuki seeking to compel Gulf African Bank to pay her a sum of Ksh 79 Million.
Addressing the Media earlier last month, Carol dismissed the ‘stealing’ stories as propaganda created by her competitors.
“Anyone alleging that I am a thief should demonstrate with evidence. I am a banker by profession. I have worked at KCB, Equity and Gulf African Bank. I have never been fired in any of these work stations. My exit from Gulf African Bank was orchestrated by political issues between the bank and my father.” Karimi says.
The author is a Social Media Strategist, a Digital Media Expert with interest in Governance and Social Welfare.
