Chaos erupted along Moi Avenue, Nairobi, on Tuesday as a large group of angry job seekers stormed the offices of Trustpin Travel Agency, accusing the firm of defrauding them of millions of shillings in a fraudulent overseas job scheme. The victims, who had been promised lucrative employment opportunities in Mauritius, demanded immediate refunds after realizing they had fallen prey to a scam.
According to the aggrieved individuals, Trustpin Travel Agency had advertised job placements abroad through online platforms, luring desperate Kenyans with promises of employment. Many hopeful job seekers paid between Ksh.200,000 and Ksh.400,000 in agency fees, airfare, and other travel-related costs. Some even took loans or sold their property to afford the payments, only to be left stranded and jobless.
Faith Nasimiyu, one of the victims, recounted her ordeal: “I paid in installments, I am a driver and a caregiver. The director told us that jobs were ready, and that once we got there, we would start working according to the plan.”
For some, the deception was only revealed upon arrival in Mauritius. Stranded at the airport without food or assistance, several victims were deported back to Kenya after days of hopeless waiting. “We stayed at the airport for three days without any food. We were told to wait for the plane that brought us there to take us back to Nairobi,” Nasimiyu added.
Another victim, Beatrice Njoki, lamented her loss, saying, “I paid Ksh.193,000 for a job that wasn’t there.” Similarly, Erick Ochieng revealed that he raised Ksh.430,000 for his brother to secure a job in Mauritius, but he found no employment upon arrival.
Desperate for justice, the affected job seekers reported the matter to the Central Police Station in Nairobi, but claim that little action has been taken. The enraged group took matters into their own hands, storming the travel agency’s offices in search of answers and refunds.
Meanwhile, Trustpin Travel Agency’s director, Mary Kamunge, through her lawyer, has acknowledged the complaints and promised refunds. However, she stated that deductions would be made for expenses allegedly incurred by the agency in facilitating the victims’ travel.
“The agreement is we are going to deduct some amount that was used to help facilitate their travel. Already, we are working on refunding some amounts. This is an isolated case,” the lawyer said.
As victims continue to seek justice, this incident serves as yet another cautionary tale of the increasing cases of employment scams targeting desperate job seekers in Kenya.
