Nairobi, Kenya | By Michael Wandati | Five individuals, including one foreign national, have been arrested in Nairobi for allegedly orchestrating a fraudulent overseas job recruitment drive.
The suspects, identified as Nick Van Opstal (a foreigner), Samuel Marigi, Patrick Wangai, Susan Oluoch, and Christine Muthoni Wangechi, were arrested by detectives from the Nairobi Regional headquarters.
The arrests took place at the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka, where the fraudulent recruitment activities were being held.
According to a statement from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Saturday 1, June 2024, the operation was initiated following a tip-off from the public. The detectives raided the site, rescuing 1,000 job seekers from falling victim to the scam.
The suspects had been operating under the guise of two recruitment agencies, Alhanawa Jobs and Supply Link Ventures Limited, to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
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“They were arrested following a tip-off from the public about activities of two suspicious recruitment agencies namely Alhanawa Jobs and Supply Link Ventures Ltd who were purporting to be recruiting for overseas jobs at KCB sports club grounds,” DCI stated.
“Following the swift response by the detectives, approximately 1000 jobseekers were snatched from the fangs of the snake oil merchants whose sole mission was to fleece them off their hard-earned cash,” DCI added.
The DCI reported that preliminary investigations uncovered the suspects were conducting their operations despite the National Employment Authority (NEA) having flagged the recruitment as a scam.
A manhunt is currently underway for three additional suspects, identified as Hannah Mbugua, Gladys Oluasa, and Lucy Wanjiru, who evaded capture during the raid.
The DCI has urged the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious agencies to the police for prompt action.
