Court Grants ARA Power to Seize Properties and Cars Linked to First Choice Recruitment Jobs Scam
The High Court has authorized the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) to seize multiple properties and luxury vehicles tied to Judy Jepchirchir, the embattled director of First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency, over her alleged role in a massive Ksh 1 billion jobs scam targeting thousands of Kenyan youths.
Jepchirchir is accused of defrauding over 8,000 jobseekers through a fake Qatar employment scheme and laundering the illicit proceeds through her firm and associated proxies.
Properties and Vehicles Under Seizure
In a court order dated July 2025, ARA Acting Director General Mark Ogonji listed the following as proceeds of crime:
✅ A Ksh 1.9 million three-bedroom apartment in Athi River
✅ A four-storey commercial building in Eldoret, currently earning Ksh 289,000/month in rental income
✅ Two high-end vehicles purchased using defrauded funds
✅ Two land parcels in Eldoret, now under caveat
“The Respondent is hereby directed to surrender the original logbooks of the motor vehicles to the applicant within 14 days,” Ogonji stated.
If Jepchirchir fails to comply, ARA has the court’s approval to seize and detain the vehicles. The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has also been directed to register caveats on the vehicles and land to prevent any transfer or sale.
Money Laundering Through Fake Recruitment Scheme
ARA revealed that 27 bank accounts were opened by First Choice Recruitment across five banks to handle over Ksh 300 million in suspicious transactions between 2020 and 2023. Most withdrawals were made just below the reporting threshold, indicating attempts to avoid scrutiny.
“Our investigations point to a sophisticated fraud ring using proxies and dummy companies to move money,” said ARA Deputy Director Timothy Nderitu.
Investigators found that most accounts now have negligible balances despite large inflows and withdrawals.
📍 Key Locations Linked to the Scam:
Nairobi – Properties and office operations
Machakos (Athi River) – Apartment linked to laundered funds
Uasin Gishu (Eldoret) – Commercial building and land parcels
Over 8,000 Kenyan Youths Scammed
In 2023, the Senate Labour and Social Welfare Committee ordered First Choice Recruitment to refund Ksh 1 billion to victims from Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Nakuru, and Nandi Counties.
Victims say they paid large sums for job placements in Qatar and other Gulf countries, which never materialized. Most receipts lack official company letterheads or stamps, complicating verification.
“We have identified over 1,200 defrauded individuals. However, the documentation is poor,” said ARA Director Alice Mate.
Ongoing Investigations and Prosecution
Jepchirchir is under active investigation and faces prosecution for:
Obtaining money by false pretense
Fraud
Money laundering
Running unlicensed recruitment operations
She is associated with at least 11 companies, where she holds director or bank signatory roles. Authorities have also flagged seven other suspects believed to be accomplices.
📢 What You Should Know
First Choice Recruitment was never officially licensed to send workers abroad.
Over Ksh 1 billion was collected from jobseekers under false pretenses.
Victims are urged to provide valid receipts and witness testimonies.
ARA is tracing funds and freezing assets to ensure victims can be compensated.
