Police Arrest Four Suspects Over Fake Dubai Job Scam in Eldoret

Police in Eldoret have arrested four individuals accused of defrauding over 2,000 youths by falsely promising lucrative jobs in Dubai, including roles as masons, plumbers, and carpenters.

The suspects, identified as a woman of Arab origin and three men, were apprehended on Monday at Annex in Kapseret Sub-County while allegedly engaging job seekers from Ziwa in Soy Sub-County. At the time of the arrest, 45 youths were already lined up for the supposed overseas jobs.

The arrests followed a tip-off from victims who became suspicious of the operation. According to Uasin Gishu County Criminal Investigation Officer Daniel Muleli, the recruiters initially conducted the drive at Boma Inn but later moved to a deserted compound in Annex, raising concerns among the jobseekers.

Victims revealed that they were transported by bus from Ziwa to the recruitment site. One of them, Mr. Job Keter, a boda boda rider, said the agency approached him to help recruit 2,000 youths, promising unskilled workers salaries of Ksh 30,000 to Ksh 40,000, while skilled workers were to earn upwards of Ksh 70,000. The agency also pledged to process visas and other travel documents.

Investigations have uncovered that the firm is registered under the National Employment Authority (NEA) to operate in Nairobi but was conducting activities illegally in Eldoret.

The suspects are in police custody as investigations continue.