Kenyan TikToker Rish Kamunge Faces Charges Over Fraudulent Job Scheme

Wangare Kamunge, a TikToker and director of Trustpine Travel Agency, has been released on a Ksh5 million bond after being arraigned for running a scam offering fake jobs in Mauritius. Victims paid between Ksh200,000 and Ksh400,000 for non-existent positions. DCI revealed Rish admitted to receiving Ksh12.9 million from 43 individuals and encouraged others to report.

Kenyan TikToker Wangare Kamunge, also known as Rish Kamunge, has been released on a personal bond of Ksh5 million following allegations surrounding a fraudulent job scheme targeting Kenyans seeking work in Mauritius. She was granted bail after the court denied the prosecution’s request for a seven-day detention period.

According to a statement issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Rish, who operates Trustpine Travel Agency, reportedly collected payments between Ksh200,000 and Ksh400,000 from victims who believed they had secured legitimate job placements in Mauritius. DCI noted, “Victims reported paying between Sh200,000 and Sh400,000 for job placement, only to discover that the promised opportunities were nonexistent.”

Reports emerged that some victims had traveled to Mauritius but ended up stranded at the airport with no assistance before being deported back to Kenya. The DCI revealed that Rish acknowledged receiving a total of Ksh12.9 million from 43 individuals. She appeared in court for custodial orders and was subsequently remanded at Capital Hill Police Station.

Detectives are encouraging other potential victims of the scam to report their experiences at the Central Police Station in Nairobi. On March 27, hundreds of Kenyans protested at Rish’s agency in Nairobi, demanding refunds for the significant sums paid for non-existent employment opportunities abroad. Victims asserted that they discovered the job agency through online advertisements, with one individual, Faith Nasimiyu, indicating she paid Ksh225,000 in total for her placement.

In summary, Rish Kamunge’s case sheds light on a troubling fraudulent scheme that exploited many Kenyans in their pursuit of employment abroad. With substantial financial losses reported by victims, the Department of Criminal Investigations continues to investigate and seeks to protect additional individuals from similar scams. The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious job offers.

Original Source: www.kenyans.co.ke