ARA freezes First Choice Recruitment director Chepchirchir’s assets over Sh1 billion overseas jobs scam

First Choice Recruitment Director Judy Chepchirchir has been barred from selling her cars, land, and other assets after the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) froze her property over a suspected overseas jobs scam that defrauded Kenyans.

In a gazette notice, ARA Acting Director General Mark Ogonji said Chepchirchir and her associates are now prohibited from selling, transferring, or disposing of the listed assets, including vehicles and land.

“The respondent be and is hereby directed to surrender the original logbooks of the motor vehicles and the motor vehicles specified to the applicant forthwith, but not later than 14 days from the date of issuance of this order,” Ogonji said.

He warned that failure to comply would allow the agency to take direct enforcement action.

“In the event the respondent fails to surrender the above motor vehicles as specified, the applicant shall be at liberty to seize, detain and take custody of the motor vehicles specified therein,” Ogonji said.

Place caveats

The notice also directed the director-general of the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) to place caveats on all vehicles registered under Judy Chepchirchir’s name to prevent their sale or transfer.

Two parcels of land belonging to Chepchirchir in Eldoret have also been placed under caveat, barring any transactions until investigations are complete.

Additionally, a court order instructed the registration of a caveat on a three-bedroom apartment under construction in Athi River, linked to Chepchirchir.

The unit, identified as Unit No. W55 in the GWG5 project will remain under restriction. A second interested party has been directed to submit the sale agreement, statement of account, and other relevant documents.

Chepchirchir is accused of defrauding over 8,000 youths in Uasin Gishu and Nandi Counties of more than Sh1 billion by promising non-existent overseas jobs. She remains under investigation as authorities work to trace and recover the suspected proceeds of crime.

First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency Limited, which she heads, has been under scrutiny for allegedly scamming Kenyans with fake job offers abroad, particularly in Qatar.

In 2023, the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) began investigating 27 bank accounts linked to the agency’s main suspects, focusing on possible fraud and money laundering.

That same year, the Senate Committee directed First Choice Recruitment to refund Sh1 billion allegedly collected from job seekers in Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Nakuru, and Elgeyo Marakwet counties. Many victims claim the agency failed to secure them jobs despite receiving payment.

The freezing of Chepchirchir’s assets marks the latest move by authorities to recover funds believed to have been lost in the alleged scam.

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