The noose is tightening around Joseph Kipkemboi Keino, the elusive mastermind behind a jobs syndicate that swindled desperate youth, as an Eldoret court loses patience.

The corridors of the Eldoret Law Courts were thick with tension this morning as Principal Magistrate Kesse Cherono declared enough was enough. For the second time, a warrant of arrest has been issued against Joseph Kipkemboi Keino, the man accused of orchestrating a Sh12 million overseas employment hoax that has left 18 families destitute.

This case has become a litmus test for the judiciary’s ability to crack down on the "merchant of dreams" industry in the North Rift. Keino, who had previously promised to refund the victims Sh500,000 as a goodwill gesture, failed to appear in court, signaling a calculated flight from justice.

The Anatomy of the Con

Court documents paint a damning picture of predatory greed. Between March and July 2024, Keino allegedly operated a sophisticated recruitment front. He didn't just promise jobs; he sold a lifestyle. Victims were told of positions in Qatar’s hospitality sector and fruit-picking gigs in Australia, parting with between Sh300,000 and Sh1.8 million each.

The money, often raised through selling ancestral land or high-interest loans, vanished into the suspect's accounts. "He told us the visas were ready," said one victim, who requested anonymity. "Now we are landless and jobless, while he plays hide and seek with the law."

• The Guarantor in Trouble: The magistrate has now turned the heat on Keino’s surety. The guarantor, who deposited a land title deed to secure Keino’s bond, has been summoned to appear on February 9 to explain why the suspect is missing.
• Digital Evasion: The prosecution revealed that Keino has gone "dark," switching off all known mobile numbers and vacating his last known residence.
• Legal Abandonment: Even his lawyer, Edwin Ruto, admitted to the court that he has received no instructions from his client, effectively leaving Keino defenseless.

A Region Under Siege

This case is not an isolated incident; it is a symptom of a rot plaguing Eldoret. From the First Choice agency scandal to the Finland scholarship saga, the North Rift has become a hunting ground for fraudsters exploiting the unemployment crisis. The modus operandi is identical: leverage the desperation of youth, promise swift exit from Kenya, and disappear when the check clears.

Magistrate Cherono’s ruling sends a stern warning: the era of out-of-court settlements being used as stalling tactics is over. "I direct that the suspect be arrested and brought before this court," she ordered. For the 18 victims waiting in the gallery, it was a small victory, but until Keino is in handcuffs, their Sh12 million remains a ghost.