Man accused of defrauding job seekers in Eldoret ordered to refund Ksh.12M

Joseph Kipkoech Keino is accused of defrauding the victims among them university college students and taxi operators pretending that he was in a position to secure them well-paying jobs in Australia.

The court had heard that he had enticed his victims with hotel work abroad where they were to serve as servicemen and service women with a monthly of Ksh. 900,000 each including free food and accommodation.

While presiding over the case, the Principal Magistrate Cherono Kesse warned the suspect that failure to comply with her order she will cancel his Ksh. 3 million bond with immediate effect.

Kesse directed the accused person to deposit the first installment of Ksh. 150,000 before the end of this month to save himself from being locked back in Eldoret GK. remand prison.

She asked the accused person to avail himself before her court on October 6th to confirm whether her orders have been complied or not.

The accused is said to have obtained by false pretense the said more than Ksh. 12 million from the victims.

The charge sheet stated that he obtained the money from the 18 victims on diverse dates between March and July 2024.

Court documents indicate that he obtained between Ksh. 300,000 to 1.8 million from each victim with a promise of helping them to secure jobs as hotel workers in Australia.

The accused first appeared in court in September 2024 denied the charge and was released on Ksh. 3 million bond with a surety of similar amount.