How praise and worship member scammed Eldoret residents

Eldoret, the hometown of President William Ruto, is renowned for producing athletes who have brought international acclaim to Kenya and for being one of the country’s major food baskets. However, this once-glorious town is now grappling with a wave of fraudulent investment schemes that are tarnishing its reputation and devastating its residents.

As Eldoret transitions into its new status as a burgeoning urban centre, the promise of prosperity has attracted unscrupulous individuals and companies looking to exploit the situation.

These fraudsters target the local population with enticing promises of lucrative investments, real estate deals, and other opportunities, convincing them to part with their hard-earned money. Unfortunately, many residents have fallen victim to these scams, losing millions of shillings in the process.

One of the most recent and significant incidents is the Springmark Investment saga, an online forex scam that has left many Eldoret residents reeling. Victims, including lawyers, church leaders, teachers, and farmers, were duped into investing in the company, only to lose over a billion shillings when the leader of the scheme vanished with their deposits.

Among the victims is Susan Waititu, who invested Sh240,000 after being promised monthly returns of 18%. Encouraged by the initial returns, she continued to increase her investment. Tragically, she also convinced her blind brother to invest Sh1.2 million, along with other family members, leading to a total family loss of over Sh5.7 million.

“When we do our calculations, we had invested at least Sh5.7 million, hoping to earn good returns to invest in other businesses, pay school fees for our children, and improve our standards of living,” Waititu lamented. “We took loans and used our hard-earned savings, only for our lives to be turned upside down. Now, auctioneers are on our heads.”

Another victim, Janet Watakila, who lost Sh3 million, described how the scam artist created a convincing façade, complete with an office equipped with a cash counting machine. Many were lured into the scam through churches, where the suspect, who was a member of a local church’s praise and worship team, used trusted religious leaders to promote the fraudulent investment opportunity.

“His strategy was to use the church and convince the pastors to talk to their worshippers that if they invested in his company, they would get an 18% interest on their investments, which was above what commercial banks offer in money markets,” explained William Getumbe, another victim and a music producer.

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John Naba, who invested Sh500,000, expressed his despair at losing his savings, which he had hoped would secure his children’s education. “I even took a bank loan because I thought I was investing to provide for my children. I am now depressed and do not know what will become of my family,” Naba said.

Tecla Meli, who began investing in July last year, called on investigators to act swiftly, pointing out that the investment company was licensed. Despite the apparent legitimacy of these operations, the growing number of scams in Eldoret suggests a disturbing trend.

The rise in fraudulent activities in Eldoret mirrors a broader pattern observed in Kenya’s urban landscape. As Nairobi becomes increasingly congested and its infrastructure strained, some conmen have shifted their focus to Eldoret, exploiting the town’s growing potential by creating false narratives and luring unsuspecting investors.

Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi has assured victims that the police are handling the matter and that the suspect will soon be apprehended and charged. The case is being investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) from Nairobi, according to Uasin Gishu County Criminal Investigation Officer (CCIO) Daniel Muleli.

“I want to tell the residents of our county that when the deal is too good, they should think twice. I assure you that your case is in good hands and that investigations have commenced,” Mwanthi said.

However, frustrations are growing among the victims, who recently took to the streets of Eldoret to demand justice. They accused the police of colluding with the suspect, identified as Ambrose Abuti, and claimed that some senior police officers and an influential government figure are aiding the suspect in evading arrest.

“We want to get our money back. We want to be compensated by Abuti, and we want that done as soon as possible,” demanded Emily Wanjala, one of the protestors.

This is not the first time Eldoret has been rocked by such scandals. Last year, hundreds of youths who had been duped by the First Choice Recruitment agency held peaceful protests demanding refunds after being promised jobs abroad that never materialized. Additionally, the town was in the spotlight over the Sh1.1 billion Finland and Canada education scam, which saw parents and students threatening to return to the streets to demand refunds from Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago and other county officials involved.

As Eldoret grows, so too does the need for vigilance and protective measures against the rising tide of fraud. The town, once celebrated for its athletic champions and agricultural contributions, must now confront the challenges of rapid urbanization and the accompanying risks to its residents’ financial security.