Here is your annual reminder about David Munyakei, the fearless whistleblower who exposed the Goldenberg scandal in Kenya. Today marks 19 years since we lost him. We remember his bravery and dedication to truth. A true patriot. The history they should have taught us. #TeamCourage
David Sadera Munyakei: Portrait of the patriot
David Sadera Munyakei was only 23 when he joined the Central Bank of Kenya as a clerk in 1991. He initially wanted to be a military officer but shelved that ambition when the opportunity at CBK beckoned. His soldiery instinct, however, would serve him well when he was called upon to defend his country and the integrity of his work.
Munyakei’s work at CBK mainly involved authorising transactions. He noticed that one particular company, Goldenberg International, was receiving large sums of money for the alleged export of gold and diamonds. Such exporters were to receive a government subsidy to help them compete on the international market. But in a country with no known commercially viable gold mines worth talking about, Munyakei smelt a rat.
Yet, the CBK continued to pay Goldenberg International compensation for exporting non-existent gold. It soon emerged that to keep up with their charade, the Goldenberg merchants, smuggled gold from Congo and then pretended to export it at the higher price. In his submission to the Goldenberg Commission in 2003, Munyakei described the events that eventually pushed him to speak up: “After 1992 elections this thing became very rampant and became open theft.” In total, the Goldenberg was paid more than Sh60 billion, one fifth of the country’s GDP at the time.
In 1993, Munyakei approached two opposition MPs with concrete evidence of the illegal payments made by CBK to Goldenberg International. The MPs used the dossier in Parliament, blowing the lid on the worst financial scandal and most blatant act of corruption at the time. For his bravery, Munyakei was arrested and charged under the Official Secrets Act. Munyakei’s plight broke his mother’s heart and two days after he was charged in court, she suffered a stroke. She then sunk into depression and died two months later.
He was eventually released only to find he had been fired from his job. His act of courage cost him his dream job and made him an enemy of the state. Fearing for his life, he fled to Mombasa. Ostracized but resilient, Munyakei appeared before the Goldenberg Commission, the most comprehensive attempt at finally getting justice for the scandal, in 2003. He was vilified and his family cursed him for risking his life for nothing. John Munyakei died a poor, bitter man in 2006. Kenya failed him. #SemaUkweli #RevealingTruth #UkweliShujaa
As you start your day, do me a favor.
Comment, retweet, or quote #FormIEBC as many times as you can.
I only need 1000 mentions of this hashtag to kick-start the campaign.
The IEBC is our only way out of this mess now.
Retweet widely.
Tentatively a few minutes till the court case review for Adani-JKIA deal kicks off from 2pm.
Kenyans, please beware and ignore these distractions:
-The fight between tweeps
-Gachagua impeachment SCAM
-The bogus charges levelled against Morara.
Please tune in and focus on the ongoing coutrt case against Adani.
Also make everyone you know aware about the case.
Widely tweet and retweet #RejectAdani so they know mko rada.
Mkipoteza focus kidogo tu hivi, hii imeenda!
Sorry I almost forgot to remind you this.
Today, October 8, 2024, is the mention date for a judicial review of the decision to lease Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to Adani.
This is very important. Keep your ears and eyes out.
As you can see, Gok is working overtime to distract everyone.
-Morara arrested same day.
-Gachagua impeachment same day.
-Corenelius Kiprono also arrested.
REFOCUS your energy to Adani.
Tweet and retweet #RejectAdani widely.
The woman has been found.
Dorothy Kitazi
The police must now move swiftly and arrest this woman.
Retweet widely. Disrupting public participation, causing chaos, and assaulting Morara is crossing the line!
One of the things politicians control in Kenya control is violence. They send police, and goons to attack anyone whose ideas they oppose. The attack on Morara Kebaso was a criminal act. The perpetrators and their sponsors must be arrested. The rule of law must be upheld.
My dad went for dialysis this morning and they demanded Ksh 11,500 upfront. He needs this life-saving treatment three times a week. SHIF is a death sentence for hordes of Kenyans with life threatening diseases. Are we not angry enough to flood the streets and uproot this Kenya Kwisha government? @C_NyaKundiH@amerix@morarakebaso@KTNNewsKE@citizentvkenya@LarryMadowo@Mabonga_254@Kimuzi_ @McKennaMK
Sudden twist as activist Morara Kebaso who had been transferred to the DCI Headquarters moved again, with reports indicating that two vehicles left the headquarters and took different routes on the highway.
It remains unclear which of the two vehicles the detectives are using to transport Kebaso.
Now you know anyone who fights those who criticize, or call out Ruto’s government is a government stooge. An employee of Statehouse, the National Intelligence Service, tenderpreneur, or simply a beneficiary of corruption. #FreeMoraraKebaso. He deserves due process, not abduction.