Jirani Smart Microfinance is on the spot over an assault incident reported at the lender's offices in Nyamira.
In a video doing rounds on social media, a man, believed to be a senior official at the company, is seen brutally beating a colleague over fraud allegations. The incident occurred on Thursday, June 16, 2022.
The tall and well-built employee holding a belt is seen raining heavy blows and kicks on the helpless man, who has since been identified as Charles Nyaachi, as other colleagues in the office watch from their desks.
He is heard accusing the man lying on the floor of wasting company resources with frequent trips to Oyugis town in Homa Bay County.
"Oyugis ulienda kufanya nini (What were you doing in Oyugis)? You are using company resources!" he is heard saying before descending on Nyaachi with blows and kicks.
The victim pleaded for mercy even asking colleagues to intervene but the perpetrator could hear none of it.
The incident has sparked outrage from a section of netizens who are now calling on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to take action.
Jirani Smart Microfinance speaks
Meanwhile, Jirani Smart Microfinance management says it has opened investigations into the matter.
In a memo to all members of staff, Kennedy Muthama, a team leader at the company, assured the employees that the matter is under probe and that necessary action would be taken against the perpetrator 'including prosecution if need arises.'
However, in a suspected cover-up, the boss asked the employees to keep the matter under wraps to protect the image of the firm.
"I know many would have wished to take the brand publicly for the negative reason, It is a shake-up and we should all seize such a moment to shine and make our brand stronger beyond the Imagination of the competitors.
"Remember competitors are more than happy when they get a loophole to mess up with your brand name. Let us all stand strong and show our mighty. let's push for more and retain our position as winners in the marketplace," he said in the memo dated June 16.
He added: "Remember, You do not eat where you sh*t or sh*t where you eat, coz, either way, the smell shall be bad. Let us kindly protect our brand from bad publicity."
