The veil of protection surrounding the perpetrators of the First Choice Recruitment scam has finally been pierced. The Commission on Administrative Justice (Ombudsman) has recommended immediate disciplinary action against four senior police officers and two top officials from the National Employment Authority (NEA) for aiding and abetting the fraud.

The scam, which saw thousands of desperate youth in Uasin Gishu and neighbouring counties fleece of millions of shillings with promises of fictitious World Cup jobs in Qatar, was allegedly facilitated by the very officers sworn to protect the public. The Ombudsman’s report paints a damning picture of a police force that turned into a private militia for the fraudsters.

The Enablers

The investigation reveals that officers, including the former Turbo Sub-County Criminal Investigation Officer (SCCIO) and the OCS of Eldoret Police Station, actively intimidated victims who tried to report the fraud. Instead of investigating the agency, they allegedly harassed the complainants.

• Regulatory Failure: The NEA Director General and Labour Migration Director are accused of gross negligence for allowing First Choice to operate without a valid license and failing to vet the non-existent job orders.
• The Human Cost: Victims sold ancestral land and took loans to raise the KES 40,000 to KES 100,000 fees. Many are now destitute, while the agency directors walk free.
• The Demand: Ombudsman Chairperson Florence Kajuju has directed the Inspector General and the Labour PS to implement sanctions within six months. "We cannot have officers who eat with thieves and arrest the victims," she stated.

Will Justice Be Served?

In a country where commissions of inquiry are often graveyards for truth, the public remains skeptical. However, naming the specific officers involved strips away their anonymity. The ball is now in the court of the National Police Service Commission.