A Nairobi court has granted the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) another 14 days to conclude investigations into the Sh 72 million Kazi Majuu scam.
In the case, for suspects were arraigned in court last week under a miscellaneous application where the DCI sought 14 days to conclude investigations.
However, the magistrate granted the suspects bond and ordered them to deposit their passports in court noting that the remaining part of investigations as laid out by the prosecution can be done while the suspects are not in custody.
When the matter came up for mention before Chief Magistrate Lukas Onyina, the defense told the court they were not opposed to the additional 14 days sought the DCI.
However, the lawyers to said that the same was on condition that their clients will not have to report to the DCI daily as earlier ordered.
The suspects include three directors of companies and a suspected beneficiary of the said scam.
Rahma Ochieng Pacho of Zawadi Jobs Abroad Limited, Rachael Njoki Kariuki of Taushi Tours and Travel Limited, Vincent Oyugi Omondi of Glorivin International and Samuel Kibuti Njue are currently out on bond.
According to the investigating officer Chief Inspector Leah Ambiche, the matter was reported at DCI Regional Offices Nairobi by Pacho the director of Zawadi Jobs – who preliminary investigations revealed is a co-conspirator in the case.
Pacho had reported that Kariuki and Omondi had approached her with a request that they had not renewed their license with National Employment Authority (NEA) but had a job demand from Dubai that required 1075 individuals.
“After several persuasions sessions by the 2nd & 3rd respondents who are wife and husband, and also considering the 1st respondent was recruiting skilled laborers to Dubai for the first time, she agreed and uploaded the job demand letter from Saif Business Services Centre based in Dubai in her Zawadi Jobs Abroad Limited portal with NEA,” the prosecution stated.
Coastal region recruitment drive
The court heard that during the Ministry of Labor recruitment drive in the Coastal region (Malindi, Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi & Mambrui) and being that several applicants were unable to raise the required fees, the Pacho, Kariuki and Omondi sought financial assistance from the Youth Fund through the Kazi Majuu platform in which by end of July 2025, the Government of Kenya funded a total of 364 candidates with a loan of Sh 72.8 million.
The 365 candidates are said to have received the funds into their respective bank accounts domiciled at Equity Bank and then transferred the money to Zawadi Jobs Abroad Ltd account also at Equity Bank.
According to court documents, the Pacho informally entered an agreement with Kariuki and Omondi that was actualized where they assigned each individual company a role.
Glorivin International associated with Omondi took up the Visa processing role and Pacho transferred a sum of Sh 13,504,133 to his Kingdom Bank account between 27th and 29th August 2025.
Taushi Tours associated with Kariuki took up the air ticket processing roles and Pacho transferred Sh 10,924,133 to Taushi’s Family bank account on diverse dates between 6th and 26th August 2025.
The court heard that Pacho alleged that Kariuki admitted to having used the amounts transferred to her company’s account for personal obligation, i.e to clear her child school fees arrears and also cleared a loan owed to a shylock.
However, she had also paid back some of the money to Pacho through Mpesa as on 20th January 2026.
It is alleged that the respondents agreed on a plan on how to share the money disbursed from the Youth fund, but not for the intended purpose.
The prosecution told the court that there is need to obtain court orders for service to the banking institution so that the DCI can obtain documents to be used in court.
The court also heard that the suspects gadgets, phones, laptops and computers need to be subjected to forensic analysis by a government chemist.
The case will be mentioned on 16th February 2026. The court ordered that the suspects report to the DCI twice.
