Nairobi – The long-running dispute between former Standard Chartered Bank Kenya sourcing manager David Dimba and his former employer has entered a new phase, with the whistleblower claiming he is now the target of a coordinated online campaign aimed at discrediting him as he continues to press allegations involving procurement practices, corporate governance, and compliance failures during the tenure of former Standard Chartered Kenya Chief Executive Joshua Oigara.
In recent weeks, social media platforms have seen a surge of posts portraying Dimba as an extortionist, blackmailer, or disgruntled former employee. Many of the posts contain similar language, graphics, and messaging, leading Dimba and his supporters to argue that the campaign appears organised rather than spontaneous.
The online attacks have emerged as renewed attention focuses on allegations Dimba has been pursuing for several years through court proceedings, regulatory complaints, and public disclosures.
Dimba joined Standard Chartered Kenya in 2011 and worked in procurement, a role that gave him oversight of supplier contracts and vendor relationships. Since leaving the bank, he has publicly alleged that serious irregularities occurred within the institution during the period when Oigara served as Chief Executive.
Among the claims raised by Dimba are allegations relating to procurement contracts, expense management practices, and anti-money laundering controls. He has published documents, correspondence, and internal records which he argues support his concerns.
One of the most prominent allegations involves a cleaning services contract awarded to Tafika Cleaners Limited. Dimba has claimed that the contract’s value increased significantly through variation orders and that questions were not adequately addressed regarding how the procurement process was conducted.
He has also alleged irregularities in information technology procurement, claiming that multiple vendors engaged for network-related projects shared common identifying details and received substantial payments for work that was either incomplete or not delivered as represented.
In addition, Dimba has questioned expense claims by senior executives and has alleged weaknesses in anti-money laundering controls involving transactions linked to politically connected individuals. These allegations have not been proven in court, and both Standard Chartered and individuals named in the dispute have consistently denied wrongdoing.
The allegations first surfaced internally through whistleblowing channels before eventually finding their way into court.
A significant development came when the Employment and Labour Relations Court directed Standard Chartered Kenya to produce an internal investigation report relating to the matters raised by Dimba. The report has attracted considerable interest because it could shed light on how the bank handled concerns raised by one of its former employees and whether any recommendations were made internally.
The dispute is also unfolding against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny of governance and compliance standards within Kenya’s banking sector. Financial institutions have faced growing pressure from regulators and international bodies to strengthen anti-money laundering frameworks, improve transparency, and enhance whistleblower protections.
Oigara left Standard Chartered Kenya in 2021 before taking up leadership roles within Stanbic Bank Kenya and later Stanbic Holdings Plc. While Dimba has repeatedly linked his allegations to the period during which Oigara led Standard Chartered Kenya, no regulator has publicly found Oigara personally liable for any wrongdoing.
The emergence of coordinated online attacks against Dimba has added another dimension to an already contentious dispute. Critics of the campaign argue that public debate should focus on the substance of the allegations and the evidence supporting or refuting them rather than personal attacks against the whistleblower.
Supporters of Dimba maintain that the issues he raised deserve thorough examination by regulators and relevant authorities. Others argue that allegations should not be treated as fact until investigations are completed and findings made public.
At the centre of the controversy remains a fundamental question: whether the concerns raised by Dimba reveal deeper governance failures within one of Kenya’s leading financial institutions or whether the claims ultimately fail to withstand legal and regulatory scrutiny.
Until the internal investigation report, court proceedings, and any regulatory reviews are concluded, that question is likely to remain unresolved.
What is clear, however, is that the dispute has evolved far beyond a workplace disagreement. It has become a closely watched test of whistleblower protections, corporate accountability, and governance standards within Kenya’s financial sector.
As scrutiny intensifies, pressure is mounting on all parties to provide evidence, answer outstanding questions, and allow established legal and regulatory processes to determine where the truth lies.
There's no story that cannot be told. We cover the stories that others don't want to be told, we bring you all the news you need. If you have tips, exposes or any story you need to be told bluntly and all queries write to us [email protected] also find us on Telegram
