The Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) has requested the court to grant them an extension of time to finish investigations into the loss of Ksh72.8 million in Kazi Majuu funds at the Ministry of Labour.

Rahma Ochieng Pacho, Rachael Njoki Kariuki, Vincent Oyugi Omondi and Samuel Kibuti Njue are being investigated for conspiracy to defraud contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code, abuse of office and offences relating to proceeds of crime and money laundering.

The four are out after the court granted them a bond of Ksh200,000 with an alternative of paying a cash bail of Ksh100,000.

Through an oral application before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina on Monday, March 23, 2026, the prosecution told the court that the investigative officer in the matter had informed him that he was yet to complete the investigations.

Further, the court heard that the extension of time was important since the investigative team is set to travel to Dubai to record further statements and witness statements and gather additional evidence in the matter.

The prosecution urged the court to grant them one more month, citing that the said period will be enough for the investigating team to conclude their investigations.

“Your honour, in the circumstances, we wish to apply for an extension of time. The investigating team applies for a period of one month to conclude the investigations due to the complexity of this investigation, which involves multiple witnesses’ forensic reports and inter-agency verification,” the prosecution submitted to the court.

Notably, the State said that no prejudice will be occasioned to the respondents since they are all out on bond, adding that the investigating officer shall avail an affidavit in the next mention detailing the steps taken so far.

However, the defense lawyers requested the court to dismiss the miscellaneous application until the prosecution is ready with the charges asking the court to also allow the respondents get back their passports that they deposited in court.

“Your honour, I pray that the miscellaneous application be dismissed and the passports that were deposited in court be released to the respondents until the prosecution is ready, and once they summon them (respondents), our clients will honour the summons,” the defence lawyer submitted to the court.

According to the miscellaneous application, Rahma, who is the director of Zawadi Jobs Abroad Limited, reported that matter to the DCI, alleging that Njoki and Oyugi approached her with a request that they had not renewed their licence with the National Employment Authority (NEA) but had a job demand from Dubai that required 1075 individuals.

Further, Rahma stated that after several persuasion sessions by the two, who are husband and wife, and also considering she was recruiting skilled labourers to Dubai for the first time, she agreed to their request.

She later uploaded the job demand letter from Saif Business Services Centre, based in Dubai, in her Zawadi Jobs Abroad Limited portal with NEA.

Notably, the application reveals that during the Ministry of Labour recruitment drive in the coastal region (Malindi, Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi and Mambrui), the three sought financial assistance from the Youth Fund through the Kazi Majuu platform.

The government of Kenya then funded a total of 364 candidates who were unable to raise the required fees, which were a loan of Ksh72,800,000 through the three monies which were deposited to them by the end of July 2025.

The application also reveals that after the 364 candidates received the funds from the Youth Fund into their respective bank accounts domiciled at Equity Bank, the monies were transferred to another account belonging to the recruiting agency Zawadi Jobs Abroad Limited in the same bank.

Later, Rahma entered an agreement with the couple that was actualised, where they assigned each individual a role. Glorivin International was associated with Njoki’s husband for the visa processing role, and Rahma transferred Ksh 13,504,133 between August 27 and 28, 2025.

It is also revealed that Rahma also transferred Ksh10,924,133 to Taushi Tours and Travel Ltd on diverse dates between August 6 and August 26, 2024.

The application states that Rahma alleges that Njoki admitted to having used the money transferred to her company’s account for personal obligations to clear her child’s school fee arrears and also cleared a loan owed to Shylock.

It also states that Njoki later transferred some money back to Rahma through an MPESA transfer on diverse dates between July 1, 2025, and January 20, 2026.

“It is alleged that the respondents agreed on a plan on how to share the youth money disbursed from the youth fund while not using it for the intended purpose,” the application states.

Magistrate Onyina will deliver a ruling on the prosecution’s time extension application on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 9 am.