Kasarani labourer charged over Sh290,000 fake Qatar jobs scam

A casual labourer from Kasarani has been arraigned in court for allegedly defrauding two job seekers of more than Sh290,000 by promising them work visas to Qatar, only to issue visitor visas to Jordan and falsely claim they would be converted into work permits upon arrival.

Hansel Wanyonyi Kitui is accused, according to court papers, of obtaining Sh283,063 from Gecox Agley Ohuru on various dates between May 2 and 24, 2025, at an undisclosed location within Kenya, after purporting that he could secure him employment abroad.

In a separate count, Wanyonyi is alleged to have obtained an additional Sh10,000 from Dennis Gisimba on May 23, 2025, under similar pretences.

The court heard that Ohuru, 25, had been referred to the accused by a friend working in Dubai, who claimed to have travelled through Wanyonyi’s agency. He subsequently visited the suspect’s office at Pioneer House along Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi’s central business district.

Wanyonyi allegedly instructed him to pay half of the required fee—Sh163,000—which Ohuru deposited. He was then taken for a medical assessment at an additional cost of Sh13,000, with assurances that he would be notified once the visas were ready.

On May 16, the accused reportedly demanded a further Sh10,000 to expedite the process. A week later, he claimed the visas were ready and asked the complainants to pay the remaining balance of Sh140,000 before collection.

However, the court heard that the victims were instead issued with visitor visas to Jordan—contrary to the promised destination of Qatar—and were assured that these would be converted into work permits upon arrival.

Wanyonyi allegedly informed them that their flight had been scheduled for June 4, 2025, and promised to provide the tickets on the day of travel.

Unaware of the alleged fraud, Gisimba and Ohuru travelled from Nakuru to Nairobi two days before the planned departure.

On the scheduled travel date, Wanyonyi reportedly claimed that ten travellers were required to form a group and asked them to wait for eight additional individuals.

When the complainants demanded a refund, Wanyonyi allegedly promised to return the money but failed to do so and subsequently switched off his mobile phone.

The matter was later reported to authorities, leading to his arrest.

Wanyonyi was presented before Senior Principal Magistrate Paul Rotich at the Makadara Law Courts, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He was granted a cash bail of Sh150,000. The case is scheduled for hearing on May 7, 2026.