A man accused of defrauding jobseekers of more than Ksh2.5 million by promising them positions in the National Police Service (NPS) has been arraigned before a Nairobi court.
James Chesimani Masengeli, also known as Timothy Khatete Barasa, appeared before Chief Magistrate Dolphina Alego on Monday, December 8, to answer to a charge of obtaining money by false pretences.
The court heard that on diverse dates between 18 and 23 November 2025, Masengeli allegedly obtained Ksh2,588,000 from several individuals by claiming he was able to secure seven employment slots in the National Police Service, claims the prosecution says were false.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences were committed at an unknown location within the country.
Masengeli’s lawyer, Shadrack Wambui, did not oppose the proposed date and appealed for lenient bail terms, telling the court that the accused is a father of four and a law-abiding citizen.
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He further argued that Masengeli was a victim of mistaken identity, adding that the defence would demonstrate this as the case progresses.
However, the prosecution informed Chief Magistrate Alego that the accused is not a serving police officer, contradicting earlier claims by the defence.
Chief Magistrate Alego granted Masengeli a bond of Ksh1 million or a cash bail of Ksh500,000 and directed that the matter be mentioned on December 16, 2025, for pretrial.
This comes two weeks after Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives in Kilimani arrested a fraudster who swindled desperate job seekers in an elaborate police recruitment scam.
In a statement on Saturday, November 22, the DCI said Benedict Odeng'ero Wekesa was taken into custody after three victims came forward with complaints about how they were duped with promises of guaranteed entry into the police service.
Armed with forged recruitment letters, Wekesa convinced the victims to part with substantial sums of money, assuring them that their positions in the service were secured.
By the time the victims realised they had been conned, a total of Ksh2.5 million had changed hands, and their dreams of joining the police service had vanished.
Acting on the complaints, detectives swiftly moved in and ambushed the suspect at the Sagret Hotel in Kilimani, where he was arrested.
During the operation, detectives recovered twenty additional fake police recruitment letters from the premises, revealing what appears to be a well-coordinated fraud operation.
However, Wekesa's accomplice managed to escape the moment he sensed danger, slipping away before officers could apprehend him.
