The former chief executive officer of the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives (Kuscco) George Otieno Ototo is demanding up to Sh120 million that he says will enable him to enjoy a peaceful retirement.
The irony in this demand is that Otieno Ototo is a prime suspect in what has been termed by detectives as multi-billion fraud that occurred at Kuscco. He had gone into hiding after his former colleagues George Magutu, George Owino, Jackline Omolo and Mercy Muthoni were arrested.
On February 16, 2025, though, Ototo surrendered himself before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Dolphina Alego.
The multi-billion that is estimated at Sh13.3 billion was unearthed following an audit that was conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The audit exposed theft, cooking of financial books, and conflict of interest that resulted in the mega loss of money.
Despite these findings, though, Ototo in his suit at the Employment and Labour Relations Court says that he served Kuscco diligently and dutifully and as a results he wants a payout of Sh120 million that will allow him to afford a peaceful retirement.
He has accused Kuscco of neglecting, failing or refusing to pay him his salary and other benefits. These include a Sh6 million salary, Sh200,000 security allowance, Sh100,000 entertainment allowance, and Sh100,000 transport allowance. He says these amounts cover the period between February and March 2024.
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Ototo is also seeking some Sh250,000 medical allowance, Sh94.5 million gratuity benefits, Sh6 million long service award benefits, and Sh12.85 million for leave days. In the court papers, Ototo is seen to have been earning a monthly salary of Sh3 million, an annual medical benefit of Sh250,000, and a monthly security allowance of Sh100,000, a monthly entertainment allowance of Sh50,000, and a monthly transport allowance of Sh50,000.
Ototo spent 21 years at Kuscco, where he rose through the career ladder to the position of Managing Director in 2010 and eventually chief executive. His reign at the organization has however been muddied after the audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers exposed how billions of shillings were lost, stolen or hidden through what has been termed as extensive errors and misstatements in the Kuscco books of accounts.
The audit revealed that Kuscco was left with liabilities of Sh17.7 billion against assets of Sh5.2 billion following the fraud.
