Senate committee wants DCI, EACC action on First Choice
By Rawlings, January 10, 2024Pressure is now mounting on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to act on the Senate’s resolutions on First Choice Recruitment Agency to refund Sh1 billion to the victims.
The Senate Labour and Social Welfare Committee in its report tabled in the House had directed that First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy should refund the fees paid thousands of youths who were seeking overseas work and studies.
The victims, from Trans Nzoia, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties had been promised by the recruitment agency in return for lucrative employment opportunities in Qatar and other foreign countries.
Senator Samson Cherargei (Nandi) charged that the agency’s Directors Judy Jepchirchir and Faith Wariga are yet to refund the Sh1billion as ordered by the Senate last year.
In its report, the committee chaired by Senator Julius Murgor (West Pokot) directed that the two directors refund the money to the victims within a month.
“It is unfortunate that First Choice Recruitment Agency has not refunded the victims who were involved in the fraud. The sad reality is that most of the victims are young people who had just completed their High School and were looking for higher learning opportunities,” said Cherargei.
Adequate evidence
Instead, the Nandi lawmaker fingered the DCI and the EACC for failing to deal with the agency, adding that there is adequate evidence that the young people lost their money in the process.
According to Cherargei, Parliament had already done its Constitutional duty and established that the young people were duped and recommended that the agency refund the money it received from the more than 5,000 applicants.
“This is a face of impunity where young people lost millions of shillings and there is enough evidence for the DCI and EACC to prosecute the perpetrators but they are doing absolutely nothing even after Parliament indicted the agency. We are disappointed with the DCI and EACC,” he said.
Mental disorders
In addition, Cherargei further contends that there are some victims’ parents who have died because of the stress of the fraud and there are young people who are also battling stress-related mental disorders.
“Many properties are being auctioned by banks because they took money to give to this Agency in Eldoret, with the hope of travelling to Qatar and Poland for work and studies respectively.”
The Nandi lawmaker further claimed that the agency is still operating despite facing numerous allegations of fraud and being indicted by the Senate.
“We are waiting for the resumption of the House in February for the committee to give us an update. They had given timelines of implementation of their recommendations,” said Cherargei.
The Labour Committee, which tabled its report in the House and was adopted, had been investigating the alleged fraud of more than 5,000 youths from Uasin Gishu and neighbouring counties of more than Sh1billion.
In the damning report adopted by the Senate in October last year, the committee ordered First Choice to refund Sh1 billion paid by thousands of youth.
The committee also directed that the Assets Recovery Agency repossess the property owned by Jepchirchir and Wariga should they fail to refund the monies owed to the victims within a month.
The report further recommended that the bank accounts of the two directors be frozen by relevant authorities until the millions of shillings owed to the thousands of victims are fully recovered.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the National Employment Authority were ordered to issue a public notice in at least two local dailies with nationwide circulation directing the recruitment agency to cease operations with immediate effect.
The agency and its associates were directed to cease recruitment and placement for not less than five years and should be closely monitored by the DCI.
“The Senate recommends that Jepchirchir, Wariga and other directors of the recruitment agency be barred from registering, operating or managing any other recruitment agency or company upon tabling and adoption of the report by the Senate,” read in part the report.
This is after Kimutai Kirui and Chepses arap Koech petitioned the Senate that thousands of people had been duped with non-existent jobs in Qatar and scholarships in Finland.
Yesterday Kimutai alleged that the agency’s directors have been issuing bouncing cheques and no victim has been paid, adding that the DCI has summoned Ms Jepchirchir to appear before its officers tomorrow (Thursday).