Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested four persons in Bomet County over cases of alleged involvement in a vast fraud targeting job seekers with counterfeit offers of employment from Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in an amount exceeding Ksh.40 million.
Those arrested include David Kemei, who is the TSC Director for Konoin Sub-County; Rosebella Chepkemoi Korir, a former aspirant for the woman representative seat of Bomet County; and the teachers identified as Leonard Siele Towett and Mercy Cherotich.
DCI reports that after a protracted and thorough investigation, it was found that the suspects were running a very elaborate scheme against unemployed teachers and other members of the public seeking work. They were all engaging in soliciting large amounts of money from their victims under the pretense that they were issuing TSC appointment letters that would grant victims permanent and pensionable teaching positions.
Investigators further established that the scheme had devastating financial consequences on the victims. Many victims had allegedly borrowed money from financial institutions, sold personal property, or depleted their life savings based on what they thought was the offer of a legitimate government job through the TSC.
The four suspects were presented before the Bomet Law Courts on Friday, and detectives successfully applied for a 14-day custodial order. The court gave the order, enabling investigators to have enough time and carry out thorough investigations into the matter.
According to the DCI, preliminary investigations indicate that this fraudulent network may not be local to Bomet County. Authorities now suspect that the scheme operated across the neighboring counties of Kericho, Narok, Kisii, and Nyamira. Efforts are currently ongoing to identify, trace, and even arrest others suspected to have been involved in this scam.
In its statement, the DCI reiterated its commitment to closely cooperating with the TSC in dismantling criminal networks that prey on job seekers and erode public confidence in government institutions.
The agency strongly warned the public to be vigilant and cautious in their search for employment. Candidates were urged to check the validity of any recruitment information directly from the official TSC channels, reiterating that the Teachers Service Commission does not charge any fees for job placement or recruitment services.
Investigations into the case continue as the authorities begin the process of ensuring that all those implicated face justice.
