Judy Chepchirchir: Embattled First Choice Director Bows To Pressure, Agrees To Refund Victims

• First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Kenya is accused of conning Uasin Gishu residents by promising them jobs in Qatar during the 2023 World Cup
• The agency has admitted that it did not take everyone to Qatar, but it was working to ensure justice is served and refunds are issued
• The controversy has led to calls for the government to investigate the agency and protect Kenyans from being scammed

Eldoret - First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Kenya has been in the limelight lately over allegations that it conned a section of Uasin Gishu residents.

The 36-year-old Judy Jepchirchir, at the centre of an alleged dubious overseas jobs scandal, admitted that they had not taken every one to Qatar, but a refund was going on.

"We have admitted we did not take anyone to Qatar but are working to ensure justice is served. For those due for refunds, we are working to ensure they get their money before the end of the month," Jepchirchir said.

The controversy occurred when the agency failed to send over 2000 applicants who had been called up to work in Qatar during the 2023 World Cup.

Applicants who could not get travel documents

According to a story published by Nation, Jepchirchir said out of the 2011 applicants, they managed to deploy over 800 job seekers to Qatar to work for two months and others for four months.

The 36-year-old explained that workers going for the short-term contracts paid a KSh 10,000 non-refundable medical and registration fee and a further KSh 30,000 service charge.

She clarified that the remaining 1,184 failed to board the plane after a skyrocketing number of people going to Qatar, presenting a challenge in accessing travel documents in good time.

She warned victims against mudslinging her name, claiming that none of the applicants paid half a million to travel to the Middle East country.

"Let people not lie and get involved in character assassination. No one paid KSh 500,000 to go to Qatar. Let the investigative agencies do their work. If they find me guilty, then I should be charged," Jepchirchir said.

Which process should be followed?

However, she explained that the money was not deposited in a stagnant account waiting for a refund.

According to her, there were processes to be followed and could take up to three months.

"There are terms that we need to abide by. The money was not put in an account just waiting for a refund. We have not delayed, and we are still within the terms," she clarified.

Uncountable Eldoret residents have shared shocking details of how they resigned from their jobs to travel abroad after Jepchirchir's agency convinced them.

First Choice Recruitment Agency's Judy snubs Senate

On Thursday, August 24, the director was in Kenyans' bad books after failing to account for her firm's supposed wrongdoings.

Following numerous complaints, the Senate summoned her to shed light on the matter.

Judy was to appear before the Upper House's Labour and Social Welfare Committee, whose summons she has reportedly snubbed three times.

The committee recently camped in Eldoret to listen to the plight of the victims.