Unreachable Job Agency Chief- Judy Jepchirchir
The official at the center of a parliamentary investigation into an alleged overseas jobs scandal continues to act with impunity, snubbing a Senate committee at least three times, raising concerns about her influence.
Parliamentary committees have the same authority as the High Court, which explains why, when reprimanded for ignoring invitations, even Cabinet secretaries act swiftly to avoid sanctions, including arrest.
However, Ms. Judy Jepchirchir, the owner of First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency, which is accused of allegedly collecting millions of dollars from Kenyans with the promise of lucrative overseas employment, has ignored the Senate on Labour and Social Welfare committee, most recently last week. In addition, the committee seems impotent.
This has prompted committee members and alleged victims to protest that she may be receiving protection from prominent government figures.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u was fined Sh500,000 by the Senate’s Education committee last month for ignoring five invitations to answer queries regarding retired teachers’ pensions.
The committee also stated that it would instigate the CS’s removal from office if he did not respond to its next invitation. Article 125 of the constitution stipulates that either Parliament or one of its committees has the authority to compel any individual to testify or provide information.
By Sections 18 and 20 of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act of 2017, a fine of up to Sh500,000 may be imposed on a witness who fails to appear before a committee or who does so but fails to satisfy the House or committee.
In addition, the House or one of its committees may order the detention of a witness who disregards a subpoena. On April 27, June 8, and August 10, Ms. Jepchirchir appeared before the Labour committee chaired by Senator Julius Murgor of West Pokot, but she has not responded to subsequent summonses regarding allegations that she solicited money from Kenyans with false promises of employment abroad.
She was scheduled to appear in front of the committee on June 22, July 31, and August 17, but she did not. The committee has extended an invitation to her on August 24.
Committee members have accused the Ministry of Labour and the National Employment Authority (NEA) of shielding Ms. Jepchirchir and allowing her to continue working despite serious allegations of fraud against her.
Samson Cherargei, a senator from Nandi, stated, “I want to believe that the NEA enables fraudulent agencies in this country. The Labour Ministry and the National Employment Authority have betrayed the trust of Kenyans.”
Senator nominee Miraj Abdilahi added, “This demonstrates that the administration is toothless. Nothing but timber. There is no way that someone who has defrauded Kenyans can continue to pilfer from others and remain unpunished.”
She questioned further the relationship between CS Florence Bore and the 36-year-old. “What is your connection to the director? Her connections and network render her invulnerable. She has even claimed that she corrupted us and that nothing can be done about it,” Ms. Miraj said.
Mr. Murgor expressed regret that this was occurring in President William Ruto’s domain. When Ms. Jepchirchir neglected to appear on July 31, committee members expressed similar sentiments, describing her as arrogant, self-important, and the embodiment of impunity.
George Mbugua, the vice-chairman of the committee, questioned why she had not been detained or charged despite numerous reports to the police about her company’s transactions, stating that she was acting above the law.
“The company is perceived to be unfettered to act as it pleases. The director travels from victim to victim intimidating them. “We are dealing with a client who is extremely conceited and believes she can run all government departments,” he said.
“We must determine why this individual has not been arrested and charged with fraud.” According to Senator Gloria Orwoba, it is evident that First Choice is still operating despite allegations that it has been suspended because it is not registered with the National Employment Agency.
Senator Alexander Mundigi of Embu questioned why the CEO of First Choice remained at large despite numerous allegations that she had committed crimes.
“We have observed you (Ms. Bore) accompanying the director of First Choice to numerous public events. This woman is conceited and has perpetrated criminal acts,’ said Mundigi.
Mr. Kimutai Kirui, an Eldoret-based human rights activist and the primary petitioner for the victims, testified before the committee that they had gone to the Labour Ministry and NEA offices and written to Ms. Bore but had received no assistance.
Ms. Bore had previously informed the committee of her willingness to serve as a mediator between the victims and the agency. “Allowing Ms. Bore to mediate between Jepchirchir and herself is equivalent to delivering the victims over to a lioness. Mr. Kirui stated that the residents of Uasin Gishu have little faith in the Ministry of Labor.
“Judy is unwilling to pay the money to the petitioners. The petitioners seek a refund of their funds. They desire justice” While acknowledging that she attended a public event with Ms. Jepchirchir, Ms. Bore defended herself by stating that she lacked the authority to prevent anyone from attending a public event with her.
However, the secretary of state stunned the committee when she revealed that, according to ministry records, First Choice was not registered. “We have not registered the company, and it is not listed on the NEA’s website,” she explained.
Senators asked Ms. Bore to inform the public that First Choice is not registered in the media if she was sincere in her desire to ensure that the victims receive justice. This did not occur.
In April, Ms. Jepchircir, a Kenyan residing in Qatar, testified before the committee that she had assisted 7,000 Kenyans in finding employment in Qatar, Dubai, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
She stated that the agency was registered in 2020, has a certificate of registration and an NEA license, and has been in operation for four years. She added that Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and CS Simon Chelugui were among the dignitaries who attended the 20 May 2021 inauguration of the agency in Eldoret.
On Friday, a few of the defrauded victims shared distressing accounts of how they were left in squalor after contributing millions to the agency. Some claimed that they had paid the agency over 5h400,000 in hopes of securing employment, only to have their hopes dashed.
“After I informed my father that I would not be traveling abroad, he became depressed before passing away. Priscilla Chepkorir said, “When I attempted to contact Ms. Jepchirchir, she stated that it was not her problem.”
Penis Korir stated that she sold a half-acre of land and paid Sh500,000 to First Choice in May of last year so that her son Abel Birech and his wife could move to Qatar for greener pastures, but this did not occur.
Eliud Kipsang of Uasin Gishu, another victim, quit his job in Mombasa after being assured a well-paying position in Qatar.
Senate Select Committee
“She instructed me to leave my job where I was earning 5h250,000 per month for a position in Qatar.” Also, she instructed me to pay for my sister. Rael Lagat, my ailing mother, sold her livestock, trees, and sheep to pay for First Choice,” he said.
Inspector-General Japhet Koome, who appeared before a Senate committee on June 8, pledged to ensure the suspects implicated in the fraud are brought to justice.
He stated that nearly 300 victims had recorded statements. In an investigation report released earlier this year, the Uasin Gishu County assembly implicated the company in various misconduct and recommended that its operational license be revoked, as well as that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) investigate the matter.
In December of last year, disgruntled adolescents stormed the Eldoret county commissioner’s office demanding justice, prompting the investigations.
They claimed that the agency had taken their money with the promise of finding them World Cup-related employment in Qatar.
According to the report of the assembly, Ms. Jepchirchir received illicit protection from the DCI and a police officer in Eldoret.
According to the report, petitioners made multiple attempts to report the incident to security agencies but were met with uncooperative officers.
Nevertheless, despite the recommendations, the agency continued its operations, even holding a Thanksgiving service in March for 118 individuals who were to be flown out of the country to Poland, Qatar, and Italy to work as, among other positions, cleaners, waiters, security officers, gardeners, and cooks.
In April, Ms. Jepchirchir reported to the committee that 2,011 candidates had been registered for Fifa World Cup positions, but only 827 could be deployed.
She added that 718 of these individuals had already returned home after their contracts expired, while 109 were still in Qatar on two-year contracts.
“The high influx of people to Qatar from different parts of the world caused delays in visa processing,” Ms. Jepchirchir said. “Some unsuccessful candidates failed the medical examination required by their employers, while others did not have their passports ready for travel.”
Ms. Jepchichir has continued to socialize with high-ranking government officials despite all these allegations. During the inauguration of digital government services on June 30 at the KICC, Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS Alfred Mutua introduced Ms. Jepchirchir as the country’s ambassador for the ministry’s Kazi Majuu initiative.
President Ruto, Ms. Bore, Mr. Chelugui, and other high-ranking government officials attended the event. Even the President interacted with her, inquiring what the issue had been between the government, agents, job-seekers, and employers from other countries in the past.
Mr. Kirui was not tickled by the effusive praise and the ease with which high-ranking government officials interacted with Ms. Jepchirchir.
“The height of impunity is when she addresses an event while the President is present. People will then realize that she is under complete protection,” he said.
Unreachable Job Agency Chief- Judy Jepchirchir
