First choice manager declared hostile;Senator Mandago clears his name
Members of the Ad hoc committee led by the Chair Hon.Gilbert Chepkong'a(C).
By Hubzmedia Reporter
The Uasin Gishu County Assembly Friday stood down the Managing Director First choice recruitment and Consultancy Judith Chepchirchir, and declared her a hostile witness.
The Ad hoc committee that was probing the urgency following a petition filed by 8,000 victims, cited lack of cooperation from the managing director and her advocate Henry Kenei .
Through the chair of the ad hoc committee Gilbert Chepkonga who is also The member of County assembly for Olare/Ainabkoi ward , the ad hoc committee will table their final report within 14 days,
“We received the petition from affected victims , the concerns raised were of serious nature and high profile individuals have been mentioned , we however accorded an opportunity to the First choice managing director to expound on the concerns raised by the petitioners, at first she did not appear before the committee as was required , we accorded her another opportunity but her responses were not satisfactory, the committee requested her to furnish more details which she did not oblige and today we stood her down “Said Hon Gilbert Chepkong’a.
Hon Chepkong’a however noted that the committee will be enjoined in a legal suit as an interested party in the pursuit of the justice towards the victims,
“After tabling our final report that will provide a way forward , we will definitely be enjoined as an interested party and as individual Members of the County Assembly in a case to pursue justice for the victims who hail from our wards”
Chepkonga says most of the victims were forced to sell parcels of land , and other property to raise the money while others organized for harambees to raise not less than Ksh 40,000 to facilitate their travel abroad through the agency, money that has gone to the drain.
The Vice chair of the Committee Hon Francis Muya Mwangi called on Senator Jackson Mandago, Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui and Prominent business man David Lagat who were adversely mention to clear their names,
“These high profile individuals were adversely mentioned by the petitioners having graced the official launch of the First Choice recruitment agency in Uasin Gishu county in 2021 ,their presence built confidence among the petitioners to invest their money and its prudent for them to clear their names, we are talking about 8,000 people whose families have been rendered poor, Hon Mandago has however noted that he was present only to receive the Cabinet secretary,” Said Hon Muya.
The leader of majority Hon Julius sang has assured petitioners of expedited justice In the matter, he condemned the security agents in Uasin Gishu who have been indicted for frustrating the victims in their quest to carry out peaceful demonstrations against the agency.
The victims expressed their trust in the County assembly for the manner in which their petition was handled.
“It has been established out of 8,000 of us only 10% were successful,many of us lost our monies and only 5% have received postdated cheques hoping to be refunded, we want Judy Chepchirchir arrested “Said One of the Victims.
Kimutai Kirui a human right activist who has continuously supported the victims in their quest for justice called for a probe into the dubious deals between recruitment agencies and insurance firms providing fake documents to many of the victims who are forced back home barely after two months,
“Most youth went abroad and sadly returned almost immediately in less than the stimulated time.This is because many were given insurance travel cover for a period of three months while they signed a two years contract with the agency,Insurance firms across Kenya should be scrutinized,” Said Kimutai.
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