First Choice agency secures visas for 118 candidates despite public outcry over scam!
Some of 118 candidates who will soon embark on a journey to Qatar, Poland, and Italy /Photo James Gitaka
First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency that has for the last four months been on the spotlight ,Sunday held prayers and a thanks giving ceremony following the successful visa application for 118 candidates who will soon embark on a journey to Qatar, Poland, and Italy where they are expected to work and study.
During the ceremony, the Managing Director of First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency,Judy Chepchirchir acknowledged the unwavering support and trust from parents and guardians towards the agency despite the growing criticism in the manner in which the organization has in recent past dealt with some of the candidates who its purported to have duped over Ksh 320 Million.
“On this special day, we express our gratitude to all the esteemed guests, religious leaders, parents, guardians, and friends of the agency who have graced this occasion,that demonstrates our commitment towards ensuring that all candidates who have registered with the organization have a chance to travel to their countries of destination despite the delays” She Opined.
The agency’s core values of integrity, professionalism, and service excellence should always guide the candidates in their daily activities, and they should maintain the highest ethical standards even in their host countries ,She added.
However the director has maintained that the organization was duly registered by Government and other relevant agencies despite a recommendation from the Uasin Gishu County Assembly Adhoc Committee that interrogated the Agency following a petition by a section of Kenyans ,The Committee recommended the withdrawal of the Agency’s Business permit as well as urged the Inspector General of police to ensure all the victims were fully refunded of their monies and travel documents that had continued to be withheld by the agency.
The agency has however lamented over being targeted unfairly by their rival business agencies as well as blamed politicization of the challenges it was currently facing,
“We had about 14 youth who petitioned the Uasin Gishu County assembly , we regret the matter had reached that far, we have and we are trying to engage every registered member of our agency who may be dissatisfied by our services for one reason or the other, I believe we can have a dialogue and sort them out other than move from one media house to the other tarnishing the name of our organization, there are better ways to solve any misunderstandings” said Judy The managing Director.
Some of the Youth who are expected to travel from Tuesday expressed optimism and encouraged other candidates to exercise patience,
“it has not been an easy journey , we have waited for a very long time , some of us had lost hope but finally we are here,” Said Brian Chumba one of the candidates .
The sentiments were echoed by Rose Chepkwony a parent who has had two of her children travel to Qatar through the agency .
However some of the over 8,000 Victims who have been complaining against the agency led by Kevin Kipng’etich said it was abstruse for the company to continue recruiting more candidates despite their outcry and demanded a full refund of their monies saying they had lost trust in the agency and that it was engaging in a public relation exercise .
Kimutai Kirui of the Centre against Torture implored upon the media to verify and ascertain the actual number of beneficiaries to be airlifted warning that the public should not be hoodwinked to further such theatrics that could only lead to more scams,
“We hope its not a ‘sanitization’ program , our children and parents have suffered enough with many having been pushed to their Nadir,this matter will be coming up in the Senate on Tuesday and we hope the recommendations of the senate and those of the Uasin Gishu County assembly will be implemented fully to ensure justice prevails and avert similar future incidences” Said Kirui.
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