Popular tiktoker Maria Rish Kamunge was on Thursday arraigned before a Nairobi court on allegations that she obtained money from Kenyans by promising them fake jobs overseas.
The state has requested court to grant them 7 days custodial order to conclude investigations against Kamunge before making decision to charge her.
In a miscellaneous application filed before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, the prosecution said police are investigating Kamunge for the offence of obtaining money by false pretences.
It is alleged that Kamunge was arrested by protesting members of the public after various complaints were lodged against her.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Kamunge who has frequently been travelling outside the country, operates an agency under the name Trustpin Verified Agent Ltd, allegedly swindling money from unsuspecting job seekers with fake promises of job opportunities abroad.
The agency allegedly required each job seeker to pay a facilitation fee of between Sh 200,000 to Sh 300,000.
However, complainants in the case told police that immediately after Kamunge received the money, she failed to honor her promises and disappeared into thin air for two months until she was mysterious traced at Nairobi CBD in one of her offices on March 26, 2025.
Prosecution urged the court to allow police detain Kamunge for the seven days to conclude the investigations as releasing her at this stage of the case would put her life in danger since angry members of the public might harm her should the court release her on bond.
In objecting to the said application, Kamunge, through her lawyer, told court that she was actually attacked while undertaking her normal duties in her workplace.
She told court that the application seeking her detention does not reveal any compelling reason to stand before any court.
She pleaded with the court to grant her reasonable cash bail saying she will cooperate with investigations.
The case will be mentioned tomorrow when the court will decide if she will be detained for seven days or not.
