Wikiquote quote of the day sums it all for me: For honest merit to succeed amid the tricks and intrigues which are now so lamentably common, I know is difficult; but the honor of success is increased by the obstacles which are to be surmounted. Let me triumph as that man or not at all.
--Rutherford B. Hayes <https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Rutherford_B._Hayes> On Wed, Oct 3, 2012 at 7:54 PM, Asaf Bartov <abar...@wikimedia.org> wrote: > Thank you, Alex, for disclosing the matter to the general membership. > > As Alex wrote, WMF is requiring WMKE to return all the remaining grant funds > for safekeeping, until WMKE gets its financial controls in place: an audit > of all the expenditure so far out of the grant money, beyond the money > misappropriated by Stephen; a dedicated, joint bank account with at least > two board members as signatories; replacement board members (naturally, we > expect Stephen not to be re-elected); and a functioning audit committee. > > This is indeed a disappointing development, and no doubt a demoralizing one. > Nevertheless, WMKE can and should take this as a challenge -- a form of > growing pains -- and come out stronger and more mature. I'd recommend the > general membership do whatever it takes (probably a face-to-face meeting?) > to work this out and bury the hatchet, so that we can all move on and get > back to promoting the Wikimedia Vision in Kenya. > > Best regards, > > Asaf > > > On Wed, Oct 3, 2012 at 9:42 AM, Kosgei Isaac <kips8505...@gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Thanks Alex, >> We always had this suspicion and it has really affected the chapter. >> I am not sure what the next step is and what action the board and the >> foundation will take regarding this so that it will serve as an example to >> others. >> Secondly we NEED an audit of all the funds because I personally had doubts >> with most of the expenses. >> Hope this gets sorted soon. >> Thanks >> >> On Oct 3, 2012 7:10 PM, "Alex Wafula" <xelaw...@gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> As most of you already know, we have had concerns raised over our >>> finances surrounding suspicions of embezzlement of funds by our treasurer. I >>> am sad to confirm these suspicions. Stephen Wanjau, the treasurer has come >>> forward and admitted to the Board that he has used part of the funds for >>> personal non-chapter expenses amounting to approximately USD. 800 and >>> resigned from the Board effective immediately. >>> >>> We will now move to wire back the remaining funds to WMF for keeping >>> until we have our own bank account and more than one signatory for the same. >>> As for the embezzled funds, it will be Stephen's responsibility to return >>> the amount. >>> >>> This is a major setback for the Chapter having had so many plans that got >>> sidelined over confrontations to get the issue resolved. It is my hope that >>> we will mobilize through this trying time and come out better and more >>> accountable. I would also like to take this opportunity to thanks Asaf for >>> his support in this matter. >>> >>> On Behalf of the Board, >>> Alex Wafula >>> >>> >>> >>> Dear all, >>> >>> As many know, in Wikimedia Spain we are dealing with a very nasty >>> business. >>> >>> While we were preparing our financial report we caught our former >>> secretary stealing money from our chapter. >>> >>> The stolen amount is in the vicinity of 2500 euros. He even left a debt >>> of ~100 euros that I have personally covered. It may not seem much, but it >>> was all we had. >>> >>> The former secretary never gave access to the new treasurer, he just made >>> it look like the bank was delaying the process of the change of treasurers. >>> >>> He also sent us falsified extracts of the account and the amount of money >>> in it. >>> >>> We were so concerned with the behaviour of the bank that we were about to >>> change to another one. And then we received a call from the bank saying our >>> account was in debt. >>> >>> When confronted, the former secretary confessed. All the data are clear, >>> for the bank's official reports are avaliable now. >>> >>> Also, with the gently support of the WMF, in the persons of Asaf, >>> Garfield and Jay, we have already start all the legal actions needed >>> according to Spanish law, including formal complaint to the Police and all >>> the papers with the Bank. We have prepared an official statement too, "just >>> in case" any spanish media want to discuss the case. >>> >>> This has been a huge blow for us, as you can imagine. Fortunately, it has >>> been only one person and the rest of the members of WMES are now trying to >>> re-boost our chapter. Of course, by september will be a General Assembly, >>> for all the Board have resign with the aim to lead a transparent process. >>> >>> Best regards, >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> WikimediaKE mailing list >>> WikimediaKE@lists.wikimedia.org >>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediake >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> WikimediaKE mailing list >> WikimediaKE@lists.wikimedia.org >> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediake >> > > > > -- > Asaf Bartov > Wikimedia Foundation > > Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the > sum of all knowledge. Help us make it a reality! > https://donate.wikimedia.org > > > _______________________________________________ > WikimediaKE mailing list > WikimediaKE@lists.wikimedia.org > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediake > _______________________________________________ WikimediaKE mailing list WikimediaKE@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediake