Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has been linked to a theft of Sh115 Million from the national trade union centre.
A former COTU employee, Millicent Ogila, who was accused of forging Mr Atwoli's signature and minutes to open an account at Barclays Bank Queensway Branch Nairobi, made the accusation revelation at a Nairobi Court yesterday.
She told principal magistrate Peter Ooko that it was Mr Atwoli who opened and remained the signatory to an account in which she is alleged to have used to steal the funds.
The former employee also confirmed that the decision to open the account was passed long before she joined the organisation.
Ms Ogila further pointed out that she would occasionally accompany the COTU boss to source funds to run programmes and monies would be channelled to the account.
Among the donors who funded the programmes was the National Aids Control Council (NACC ).
Ms Ogila indicated that the account was opened after the donor requested a different account that would be used for programmes such as sensitization on HIV & Aids.
“Mr Atwoli knew where all the money went to,” she stated, noting that she used the money on training, sensitisation at workplaces and sensitising mothers on mother-to-child transmission.
Ms Ogila and former Treasurer Cornel Nyagun were charged in August 2013 with seven counts of forgery and stealing over Sh15 million from COTU accounts.
