A Nairobi court has charged a recruitment agency director with allegedly defrauding four job seekers of more than Sh20 million by promising to secure them employment opportunities in the United Kingdom.
Alphonse Kioko Kivindu, 58, who heads Amble Beginning Consult Limited, appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo, where he denied 12 charges related to the alleged recruitment fraud. The charges include conspiracy to commit a felony, obtaining money by false pretences and dealing with proceeds of crime.
According to the prosecution, Kivindu allegedly received Sh18.5 million from Joyce Wambui Njihia between January 2023 and February 2024 after promising to facilitate her employment in the UK. He is also accused of obtaining Sh200,000 from Frasiah Wambui Kinyua on April 13, 2023, and Sh500,000 from Mary Waithira Mburu between April 11 and 18 of the same year. In another transaction, the accused allegedly received Sh850,000 from Agnes Wanjiku Mandu between June and November 2023, under similar promises of securing overseas employment.
The prosecution further alleged that the money collected from the complainants constituted proceeds of crime under the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act. The charges of obtaining money by false pretences were brought under Section 313 of the Penal Code.
Kivindu was arrested on November 3, 2026, by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in the Machakos area.
During the court proceedings, his lawyer urged the magistrate to grant him lenient bail terms, arguing that he was not a flight risk and would attend court whenever required.
Magistrate Onsarigo granted him a bond of Sh5 million or an alternative cash bail of Sh1 million, alongside two contact persons.
The matter will proceed to pre-trial directions, with the prosecution expected to provide the defence with witness statements and documentary evidence.
