DCI wants First Choice Recruitment director charged for defrauding 8,000 youths

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has pushed for the prosecution of the director of First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency, for allegedly defrauding over 8,000 youths from Uasin Gishu and Nandi counties in a Sh1 billion recruitment scam.

Judy Jepchirchir is accused of obtaining money from the victims under false pretence by promising them lucrative jobs abroad, which never materialised.

Paul Wachira, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Investigations Bureau, told the Senate Labour and Social Welfare Committee that statements had been recorded from 201 victims, with more others still being collected.

“The investigation has been completed, and the file was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on September 9 with a recommendation to charge Judy Jepchirchir for obtaining money by false pretence, in violation of section 313 of the penal code,” Wachira said during the committee session chaired by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor.

However, the DPP has returned the case file, instructing the DCI to verify whether Mahad Manpower, Friends Manpower, and Aletqwan Manpower, all based in Qatar, had contracts with First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency to supply the promised jobs.

The Senate Labour and Social Welfare Committee had summoned Jepchirchir, but she failed to show up leading to a fine of Sh500,000.

Senator Murgor said that she has been ordered to appear on October 3, alongside representatives of the victims and relevant state agencies.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei expressed frustration, noting that Jepchirchir has evaded previous invitations to appear before the Senate during the two years the investigation has been ongoing.

“She has never appeared before the Senate willingly. The few times she has appeared, it was after summons. This lady seems untouchable because since the victims raised their voices over the injustices they have faced, nothing has been done. That is why we are saying she should be fined and summoned to appear before this committee without fail,” Cherargei said,

Kilifi Senator Stewart Madzayo decried the hardships the victims endured, many of whom sold family land or motorbikes to fund the recruitment fees.

“The victims are tired of being taken around in circles. Most of them came from humble backgrounds, and they want justice. Some sold their family land, others sold their motorbikes with the promise of securing good jobs, but it turned out to be a well-crafted con scheme," Madzayo said.

An altercation erupted during the Senate session between Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and the Deputy CEO of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Abdi Mohamud.

Onyonka criticised the EACC for failing to act on the allegations against Jepchirchir and questioned the agency's effectiveness in fighting corruption.

“I am of the opinion that the EACC should be disbanded since I am not even sure that they are okay with the role it is playing in fighting corruption. The commission is not taking the matters seriously,” Onyonka said.

However, Mohamud defended the EACC, terming Onyonka’s accusations as unfair. He challenged the Senator to provide evidence of EACC officials receiving bribes, following Onyonka's critical remarks during radio and television interviews.

The tension escalated when Mohamud suggested that Onyonka meet him outside the committee room after the session, prompting outrage from other Senators.

Nandi Senator Cherargei and Kilifi Senator Madzayo intervened, stating that any meeting between the two should occur in their presence.

“The Kisii Senator can only meet the EACC Deputy CEO in our presence,” Madzayo said.

Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba expressed concern over the victims' suffering and called for swift justice.

“The victims want their money back. Many of them closed their businesses, resigned from jobs, or took their little savings to the agency with the hope of securing good jobs that were never available,” Orwoba said.

The Senate committee had previously ordered First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency to refund the youths within one month after it failed to deliver on promises of securing jobs and educational opportunities abroad.

The committee, which has been investigating the defrauding of over 8,000 youths from Uasin Gishu and neighbouring counties, recommended the disbandment and reformation of the National Employment Authority.

In its report, the committee also urged the Assets Recovery Agency to repossess the properties owned by First Choice Recruitment directors Judy Jepchirchir and Faith Wariga, should they fail to refund the money owed to the victims.

“The Senate recommends that the bank accounts of First Choice Recruitment and its directors, Judy Jepchirchir and Faith Wariga, be frozen by the relevant authorities until the millions of shillings owed to the victims are fully recovered,” reads the report.

Additionally, the Senate directed the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the National Employment Authority to issue a public notice in at least two national newspapers, ordering First Choice Recruitment to cease operations immediately.

The agency and its affiliates were also barred from engaging in any recruitment or placement activities for at least five years, with close monitoring by the DCI to ensure compliance.