Four individuals have been taken into custody in Bomet County following the unmasking of an elaborate scam in which job seekers were conned into paying millions for fake Teachers Service Commission recruitment letters.
The arrests followed weeks of investigations by detectives attached to the Teachers Service Commission, who traced the scheme to a group that preyed on unemployed teachers and members of the public desperate for stable employment.
Those arrested are David Kemei, the TSC Director for Konoin Sub-County; Rosebella Chepkemoi Korir, a former Bomet County Woman Representative aspirant; and teachers Leonard Siele Towett and Mercy Cherotich.
In a statement on Friday, Detectives say the suspects presented themselves as having influence within the recruitment process and demanded large sums of money from victims in exchange for appointment letters.
The letters falsely indicated that successful applicants had been offered permanent and pensionable positions with the Teachers Service Commission.
Investigators established that the forged documents appeared genuine, leading many victims to believe their employment had been secured. In their desperation, some borrowed money, disposed of property, or emptied their savings to meet the demands, with total losses now estimated at more than Sh40 million.
The four suspects were produced before the Bomet Law Courts, where investigators applied for more time to continue with the probe. The court granted detectives 14 days of custodial orders to allow for detailed investigations and the pursuit of other leads.
Further findings indicate that the scam was not limited to Bomet County. Detectives believe the network operated in Kericho, Narok, Kisii, and Nyamira counties, with efforts underway to identify and arrest other individuals linked to the scheme.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations said it is working closely with the Teachers Service Commission to dismantle the network and prevent further exploitation of job seekers. Authorities say such schemes undermine public trust and cause lasting financial harm to victims.
The DCI has urged the public to exercise caution and to confirm all recruitment processes directly through official TSC platforms, reminding applicants that the Commission does not charge fees for employment.
Anyone who may have fallen victim to the scheme and has not reported the matter has been asked to come forward. Reports can be made anonymously through #FichuaKwaDCI on 0800 722 203, via WhatsApp on 0709 570 000, or at the nearest police station.
