Editor's Review
A recruitment agency director who allegedly defrauded 29 Kenyans of approximately Ksh15 million through a fake overseas employment scheme has been arrested.
A recruitment agency director who allegedly defrauded 29 Kenyans of approximately Ksh15 million through a fake overseas employment scheme has been arrested and arraigned in court after nearly two years on the run.
In a statement on Friday, October 30, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) identified the suspect as Isaac Kipkemei Barmasai, the sole director of Eldoret-based recruitment agency, Proline Travel Advisors Limited.
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The suspect was arrested by a team of detectives drawn from DCI Headquarters, the Operations Action Team (OAT) and the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), working alongside their counterparts from DCI Turbo.
"A notorious fraud suspect who had been on the run for nearly two years over a Ksh15 million overseas employment scam has finally been arrested and arraigned in court," the statement read.
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Barmasai is accused of targeting Kenyans seeking employment opportunities abroad by allegedly promising them lucrative jobs in several foreign countries.
The recruitment agency reportedly advertised opportunities in Sweden, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada, convincing unsuspecting job seekers to pay recruitment and processing fees in anticipation of securing employment.
However, the promised overseas employment opportunities allegedly never materialised, leaving the victims financially defrauded.
"Barmasai is accused of orchestrating a fraudulent recruitment scheme that preyed on unsuspecting Kenyans seeking greener pastures abroad," the statement added.
According to the DCI, the alleged fraud was carried out through his recruitment agency, with victims paying different amounts in exchange for promised overseas job placements.
The investigations established that the scheme operated between 2023 and 2024, with individual victims losing hundreds of thousands of shillings.
"Between 2023 and 2024, victims were defrauded of amounts ranging from Ksh200,000 to Ks1 million, ostensibly as processing and recruitment fees for the promised overseas placements," the statement further read.
According to the DCI, the number of reported victims has since risen to 29, with detectives recording statements from those who came forward to report the alleged scam.
"So far, 29 victims have come forward, recording statements with detectives, with the total reported losses estimated at approximately Ksh15 million," the statement noted.
Following his arrest, Barmasai was presented before the Eldoret Law Courts where he was charged with obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code.
The case is scheduled for mention on November 4, 2026, as investigations and the legal process continue.
The DCI warned Kenyans seeking employment abroad against dealing with fraudulent recruitment agencies, urging them to verify job offers and recruitment firms before making payments.
"The DCI cautions members of the public against falling prey to unscrupulous recruitment agencies and urges prospective job seekers to verify the legitimacy of overseas employment opportunities before parting with their hard-earned money," the statement concluded.
Elsewhere, this comes days after a businessman was charged at the Milimani Law Courts with obtaining Ksh11.4 million by false pretences in a disputed cereals deal.
In a statement on Tuesday, October 27, the ODPP said Brian Kipruto Koech appeared before the court where he was released on a cash bail of Ksh3 million, with two sureties of a similar amount.
"The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has today charged Brian Kipruto Koech with obtaining Sh11.4 million by false pretences and two counts related to the alleged acquisition and use of proceeds of crime," the statement read.
The prosecution alleged that Koech committed the offences between January 29 and March 17, 2026, in Nairobi, jointly with other individuals who have not been brought before the court.
"The court heard that Mr. Koech allegedly committed the offences between 29th January and 17th March 2026, in Nairobi County, jointly with others who have not been brought before the court," the statement added.
According to the ODPP, in the first count, Koech is charged with obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code.
According to the charge sheet, he allegedly obtained the money from Abdalla Faraj Abdalla after claiming he could purchase cereals, sell them on Abdalla's behalf and return the proceeds, despite allegedly knowing that the representation was false.
"The particulars of the offence state that between 29th January and 17th March 2026, in Nairobi’s Central Business District, he allegedly obtained Ksh11,408,000 from Abdalla Faraj Abdalla by falsely pretending that he was in a position to buy cereals, sell them on his behalf and return the profits while knowing that is false," the statement further read.
Koech also faced a charge of acquiring proceeds of crime, contrary to Section 4(a), as read with Section 16(1)(a) of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, No. 9 of 2009.
The prosecution alleged that the money was transferred to his Absa Bank account during the period in question, with the accused allegedly knowing or having reasonable grounds to know that the funds were proceeds of crime.
"The charge sheet alleges that on diverse dates between 29th January and 17th March 2026, in Nairobi County, Mr. Koech, jointly with others not before the court, received Sh11,408,000 from Mr. Abdalla into his Absa Bank account," the statement noted.
