The former Boss of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Professor Davy Koech, PhD; DSc; MBS; OGW; SS;, the man who robbed KEMRI over Ksh420 million has had quite a fight with activist Boniface Mwangi on Twitter.
It all started when the former tweeted a new profile picture, Mwangi took the chance to quote the new tweet calling out Prof Koech, and sharing a link to a story done in 2010 by Nation Media Group’s Business Daily on the events covering the life of the KEMRI boss after he was accused of swindling KEMRI off Ksh420 million.
“In Kenya, big thieves have no shame. Dr.Davy Koech, has been accused of swindling the Kenya Medical Research Institute of Sh420 million”, Mwangi wrote.
The Business Daily article titled Former Kemri boss, six others on Sh420 million fraud charge, states that the former KEMRI director together with six others faced nine counts ranging from fraudulent acquisition and disposal of public property, abuse of office and failure to comply with the law relating to the management of the retirement benefits scheme’s fund.
Davy Koech quickly responded, “Mr. Boniface Mwangi, in my family of over 10, you’d be my 5th born. At the time you were born, I had already established KEMRI using my car & resources to make it the colossus it is today, and I was your age. That’s a fraction of what I’ve done for Kenya. Tell me your story”.
The embattled professor went on to submit what he termed as his achievements, listing among them the beautiful KEMRI Kilifi building. However, when he thought he had gotten away with it, another KEMRI staff joined in and demolished him with facts about the Kilifi facility.
This is not a 5 star hotel, this is KEMRI Kilifi, a facility that was built during my time at @KEMRI_Kenya. All the Government of Kenya did was provide us with the land, and we did the rest. Thank you @KEMRI_Wellcome. pic.twitter.com/O5c9WD7xvV
— Prof. Davy K. Koech | PhD, DSc, MBS, OGW, SS (@DavyKoech) March 29, 2020
This is public knowledge. Retract this BLATANTLY FALSE claim immediately. You can lie to the public but many of us have been in KEMRI long enough to know what you did to KEMRI
— Sam Kinyanjui (@sam_skmuchina) March 30, 2020
Mwangi supported the claim
.@DavyKoech who was charged with stealing @KEMRI_Kenya pensioners fund decided to overreach his accomplishments at KEMRI and took credit for someone’s work. @sam_skmuchina
who helped built @KEMRI_Wellcome decided to set the record straight. Twitter will be Koech’s social jail. pic.twitter.com/j5xleguYom— Boniface Mwangi (@bonifacemwangi) March 30, 2020
But Prof Koech dug in further
@BonifaceMwangi, KEMRI Kilifi was opened by then Min. for Health, Charity Ngilu, & an extension later. Son, it will pain you to know that if Twitter will be my social jail, you got jailed for life in 2007/08 PEV. That’s disservice, not service to Kenya. Shame on you, & thank you. https://t.co/7XkOPhT0XM pic.twitter.com/n7cbzXpMyn
— Prof. Davy K. Koech | PhD, DSc, MBS, OGW, SS (@DavyKoech) March 30, 2020
At some point, Prof Koech released a long one-page letter, defending himself.
The war of words continues today.
