Spencer Sankale, the whistleblower in the Maasai Mara heist, has been accused of withdrawing Ksh85 million during his tenure as acting finance officer at the university.

According to court documents, university council chairman Kennedy Kerei alleged that Sankale lived a lavish lifestyle- driving fancy cars and owning multiple businesses in Narok town. 

He also questioned the extravagant lifestyle pointing out that the whistleblower’s earnings from the university could not support the businesses.

Kerei added that the missing Ksh85 million was linked to the period between January 2015 to June 2016 -during Sankale’s tenure. 

“As a result, he has acquired so much wealth whose source is questionable. It is alleged that he owns a restaurant in Narok town, commercial buildings in Narok town, land within and outside Narok, which businesses require a huge amount of capital to start,” Kerei stated.

Kerei also detailed that the university had recognised Sankale’s role in uncovering graft within the institution and promoted him to acting chief internal auditor from the position of a senior accountant.

“The elevation was to give him unrestricted access to all information, including confidential information of the university so that he would directly report to the council any anomalies for immediate corrective action in terms of the human resource policy of 2018,” the university council chairman stated.

The university sought the court to dismiss a petition filed by Sankale challenging his dismissal. 

The university, in its dismissal letter, had accused the whistleblower of damaging its reputation and acting with malice against the institution.

“Due to the aforementioned, the council resolved to summarily terminate your employment with the university with immediate effect, in accordance with section 44 (4)(d)(g) of the Employment Act.

“Note that you shall be paid a one month’s salary in lieu of notice,” part of the letter read.

However, due to his role in exposing the graft case, Sankale recently landed a role as an associate member in the African Parliamentarian’s Network against Corruption (APNAC)