How Monica Kimani got Rich

 

Gradually, we are beginning to gain a clearer picture of the late Monica Kimani's financial sources. In my opinion, a journalist who writes a report claiming someone was involved in money laundering without providing substantial context likely misunderstands the concept. Here's what I mean: for money laundering to occur—an act that is criminal—there must first be a preceding crime.

Money laundering is essentially the process of "cleaning" illicit money, making it appear legitimate. This is often done through schemes such as generating fake invoices for goods and services. For example, one might claim to supply a supermarket with products, deliver invoices with inflated sums, and deposit the "dirty" money alongside legitimate funds. Later, the supermarket issues a check, making the money seem clean. On paper, it looks as if the payment was for electronics or other goods, which justifies the large sums.

Money laundering often connects to corruption, where individuals embezzle significant sums from government funds, often with insider cooperation. A common scheme involves creating a shell company that supposedly supplies goods to the government. However, no actual goods are delivered, and the company receives massive payments. This, it seems, is how Monica Kimani accumulated her wealth.

In such operations, key government insiders may partner with external individuals or companies to mask the transactions. For example, a senior government official in South Sudan might require a Kenyan intermediary to purchase properties or manage the stolen funds. Interestingly, women are often preferred in such roles, as they tend to be perceived as more trustworthy in business dealings.

Some may wonder why individuals with significant power go to such lengths. The answer lies in the global nature of money laundering, which attracts scrutiny from organizations like Interpol. Money laundering is closely tied to drug trafficking, making it an international concern. Authorities worldwide monitor large transactions, as following the money often leads to the criminals.

A recent documentary by Africa Uncensored, titled The Prophetess, sheds light on these issues. Created by award-winning Kenyan investigative journalist John-Allan Namu, the documentary explores how South Sudan’s money laundering operations involve Kenyan banks. Despite knowing the origins of the funds, some banks turn a blind eye for profit. Legally, these banks claim safety as long as the transactions are endorsed by a foreign government, allowing them a gray area for operations.

Interestingly, KTN had initially planned to air this documentary but withdrew at the last moment, despite heavily promoting it. Their sudden decision to cancel suggests external pressure, possibly from influential individuals linked to the scandal. The documentary coincided with national attention on Monica Kimani’s mysterious wealth, which may have unnerved some involved in similar activities.

A closer look at South Sudanese elites in Kenya reveals their lavish lifestyles, often protected by Kenyan law enforcement. While there’s no direct evidence, it isn’t hard to imagine that some Kenyan officials benefit from these illicit networks. This could explain KTN’s abrupt cancellation of the documentary—likely due to pressure from powerful figures.

This situation highlights the risks of publicizing sensitive stories in advance. A better strategy would be to air the piece without prior announcement, then promote it afterward. In all fairness, KTN may have underestimated the influence of the South Sudanese criminal network operating in Kenya.