Senate Orders Recruitment Agency to Refund Sh1 Billion Paid by Youths

The Senate has insisted that First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency Limited must reimburse Sh1 billion that was paid by thousands of young individuals who were promised jobs and college opportunities abroad but were ultimately let down.

Upon completion of an investigation by the Senate Labour Committee, it is now concluded that an excess of Sh1 billion had been unlawfully taken from over 8,000 youths in Uasin Gishu and surrounding counties, leading to the recommendation for the reconstitution of the National Employment Authority. The committee led by West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor says that the Assets Recovery Agency must possess the property belonging to First Choice Recruitment's proprietors- Judy Jepchirchir and Faith Wariga - in the event they do not restitute the defrauded citizens who sought assistance from the Senate.

In order to deal with the problem at hand, the Senate calls upon the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection as well as the National Employment Authority to issue an announcement in two prominent local newspapers demanding that the recruitment agency discontinue their activities at once. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations is involved in this matter. It is proposed that Jepchirchir, Wariga, and other members controlling the recruitment agency be barred from establishing, maintaining, or directing any other recruitment company upon the review and endorsement of the report by the Senate.

In addition, the Senate instructs the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection to halt any further operations, recruitment, and placement carried out by similar recruitment agencies that have raised concerns among the public. To increase transparency, the Senate has also instructed the Ministry to conduct an examination, as well as release a record of lawful recruitment agencies operating within the nation. This list must be announced in at least two extensively read local newspapers within thirty days after the report has been presented, and once every year following that date. In addition, the Ministry must make public the names of recruitment agencies that have been blacklisted within the nation, accompanied by the same publication requirements.