An Eldoret recruitment agency director has been arrested over an alleged Ksh15 million overseas employment scam in which 29 Kenyans were reportedly defrauded of money paid to secure jobs in Sweden, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Isaac Kipkemei Barmasai, the sole director of Proline Travel Advisors Limited, was arrested on Friday, October 30, 2026, after nearly two years on the run over allegations that he orchestrated a fraudulent recruitment scheme targeting Kenyans seeking employment opportunities abroad.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said Barmasai was apprehended by a team of detectives drawn from its headquarters, the Operations Action Team (OAT) and the Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau (CRIB), working alongside detectives from DCI Turbo.
According to the investigators, the suspect allegedly used his Eldoret-based recruitment agency to entice unsuspecting job seekers with promises of lucrative overseas employment opportunities that never materialised.
29 Kenyans lose Ksh15 million in alleged recruitment fraud
The alleged scam was carried out between 2023 and 2024, with individual victims reportedly paying between Ksh200,000 and Ksh1 million as recruitment and processing fees.
However, the promised overseas placements allegedly failed to materialise, leaving the job seekers counting their losses.
The DCI said 29 victims had so far come forward and recorded statements with detectives, with the total reported financial losses estimated at approximately Ksh15 million.
The amounts involved suggest that some victims parted with substantial portions of their savings in anticipation of securing employment opportunities in foreign countries.
The destinations advertised by the agency included Sweden, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada, countries that continue to attract Kenyans looking for better employment prospects.
The arrest marks a breakthrough in investigations into the alleged recruitment fraud, which had remained unresolved for nearly two years as the suspect evaded law enforcement officers.
Suspect faces charges at Eldoret Law Courts
Following his arrest, Barmasai was arraigned at the Eldoret Law Courts on Friday, October 30, 2026, to answer charges of obtaining money by false pretences, contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code.
The case is scheduled for mention on November 4, 2026.
The charge concerns allegations that the suspect obtained money from job seekers through false representations about overseas employment opportunities.
The court proceedings will determine the case against him, with the suspect presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
DCI issues warning over fake overseas job opportunities
The arrest has renewed attention on the risks facing Kenyans seeking employment abroad, particularly those who engage recruitment agencies without independently verifying their legitimacy.
The DCI has cautioned job seekers against unscrupulous recruitment firms that exploit the demand for overseas employment by promising lucrative opportunities in exchange for substantial upfront payments.
In its statement, the investigative agency urged prospective migrant workers to “verify the legitimacy of overseas employment opportunities before parting with their hard-earned money.”
Job seekers are advised to establish whether recruitment agencies are properly authorised and independently confirm advertised vacancies before paying recruitment, placement or processing fees.
With 29 complainants already having recorded statements, the DCI’s investigation has established the reported scale of the alleged scheme.
Barmasai’s arraignment marks the next stage of the case, which is scheduled to return to the Eldoret Law Courts on November 4, 2026.
