At least 263 travel agencies are under investigation for allegedly defrauding jobseekers of over Sh1 billion. DCI Chief Mohamed Amin has set up a special team at the Nairobi Regional Directorate to handle the cases involving around 600 victims.
According to Regional Criminal Investigations Officer Benson Kasyoki, victims were charged between Sh30,000 and Sh150,000, with some paying in full before realizing they were scammed. The number of complaints is expected to rise as investigations continue.
So far, nine cases are in court, seven have been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and 21 cases are awaiting the arrest of suspects, many of whom are at large. The suspects reportedly switched off phones or relocated to evade capture.
The National Employment Authority has revoked licenses of some implicated agencies. The scams involved promises of jobs in Canada, the UK, and Germany that never materialized. Victims have reported falsified travel and work documents, leading to visa bans and disqualifications.
Authorities urge victims to seek assistance at the Nairobi Area DCI offices, assuring that efforts are ongoing to recover funds and ensure justice.
