Hundreds of frustrated Kenyans stormed a job agency’s offices in Nairobi, demanding refunds after falling victim to an elaborate employment scam.
Many had paid large sums of money for promised jobs abroad, only to find themselves stranded with no work upon arrival.
The victims, some of whom had traveled over 3,100 kilometers to Mauritius, said they were misled by the agency. They claimed they had been assured of jobs, but on reaching their destination, they found no employment opportunities.
How the Scam Worked
The affected individuals revealed that they discovered the agency through online advertisements. Convinced by its promises, they paid hefty amounts—many exceeding Ksh200,000—believing they were securing legitimate job placements. However, despite making full payments, most had not been placed in any jobs.
One of the victims, Faith Nasimiyu, a trained driver and caregiver, shared her ordeal. “At first, I paid Ksh80,000 as a deposit, then later added Ksh145,000 for flight tickets,” she explained.
She was informed by the agency’s director, who was allegedly in Mauritius, that jobs were available and that she should take any work she could find upon arrival.
Excited about the opportunity, Nasimiyu traveled to Mauritius, only to face a harsh reality—there was no job waiting for her.
Stranded in a foreign country with no means of survival, she endured three days without food. “We had nothing to eat, and we were told to wait for the plane that would take us back home,” she recounted.
Her experience mirrors that of Erick Ochieng’, who spent nearly Ksh500,000 to secure a job for a relative in Mauritius.
However, upon arrival, his relative was denied entry and was informed that he had been issued a tourist visa instead of a work visa. “I gave him Ksh423,000 for the job, but he was turned away at the airport,” Ochieng’ lamented.
Another victim, Beatrice Njoki, also suffered huge losses. She revealed that after paying Ksh193,000, she never received any job placement. “I was promised a job in Mauritius, so I paid everything they asked for, but there was no job,” she said in distress.
Job Agency’s Dubious Operations
The agency at the center of the scam is located at Biashara Plaza in Nairobi. Although it has a strong presence on social media, particularly Facebook, its last online activity was in December.
The agency presents itself as a travel service provider, offering visa applications, job placements, hotel reservations, and flight bookings.
A review of its past social media posts shows that it advertised jobs in different locations, including Saudi Arabia and Dubai.
Some of the positions it promoted included security guards, cleaners, hotel maintenance staff, baristas, and housekeepers.
The agency also charged commissions ranging from Ksh10,000 to Ksh150,000 and required applicants to pay a registration fee before attending interviews.
Government’s Efforts to Curb Job Scams
The exposure of this scam comes at a time when the government has vowed to crack down on fraudulent job agencies that deceive Kenyans seeking employment abroad.
Authorities have been urged to take strict action against such companies to protect job seekers from exploitation.
For now, the victims remain hopeful that they will recover their hard-earned money. Many are calling for justice and warning others to be cautious when dealing with overseas job offers that require large upfront payments.
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