Eldoret businessman Caesar Wagichuru Kingori has been arrested for allegedly defrauding job seekers over Ksh.10 million in a fraudulent overseas jobs scam. Kingori, who had promised to secure employment in Canada for young graduates, was apprehended after failing to appear in court to answer 11 counts of fraud.
The suspect had been scheduled to take a plea before Senior Resident Magistrate Keyne Odhiambo but was a no-show, prompting the state counsel to seek his immediate arrest. The Magistrate ordered the police to apprehend Kingori for skipping court proceedings.
Kingori, who operated from Daima Plaza along the Eldoret-Nakuru highway, is accused of luring job seekers with promises of visa processing and employment opportunities in Canada. His victims, aged between 25 and 30, reportedly paid between Ksh.150,000 and Ksh.350,000 each in the hope of securing jobs abroad. Many had been camping outside his office for two months, desperately seeking answers after realizing they had been duped.
Following a tip-off from the victims, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested Kingori. His alleged victims come from various counties, including Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, and Trans Nzoia.
The suspect had posted a Ksh.100,000 cash bail three days before his arrest. The court has set March 3 as the date for mention of the case, with further directions expected.
Job scams targeting desperate job seekers have been on the rise, with fraudsters exploiting the high unemployment rate among Kenyan youth. Authorities continue to caution the public against engaging with unverified agencies and to seek job opportunities through legitimate and registered channels.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of fraudulent job schemes and the importance of vigilance when seeking employment abroad.
