Central Bank Governor Dr Patrick Njoroge on Tuesday made shocking revelations indicating that his staff had received numerous death threats.
Speaking before a Senate Committee, Dr Njoroge disclosed that owing to the ongoing crackdown on banks aimed at exposing malpractices in the banking sector, there was a cartel that had resorted to threatening his staff in a bid to slow them down.
“My people have been under pressure. There have been threats to their lives. We understand what we are dealing with, and at the end of the day we must do it for our country," said Njoroge at a meeting with the Senate's Committee on Finance.
Questioned on who could be intimidating his team, the CBK Boss hinted at powerful cartels in three banks where the regulator was conducting a forensic audit to nail multi-billion-shilling fraudsters and money-launderers.
The three banks under forensic investigation by the Central Bank are Dubai, Imperial and Chase Bank.
Dr Njoroge, however, assured that despite the external influence, he would remain on course and would ensure his team was protected.
"The one thing that worries me the most are my staff. I will do anything and everything to protect them. I will do everything to ensure that nothing happens to them.
“We assure you that we will do the audit without fear or favour despite the threats. The Sh39 billion that was looted in Imperial Bank is the new high water mark that makes Goldenberg scandal look like kid’s game,” he said.
The CBK Governor had appeared before senators to shed light on the status of Dubai Bank, Imperial Bank and Chase Bank, which collapsed in August, October and April respectively.
Chase Bank has since been reopened and is currently under the management of Kenya Commercial Bank, while Dubai and Imperial Banks are under the management of the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation (KDIC).
