City pastor on the run after allegedly defrauding 4,000 people in Ksh.600M job scam

Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Friday raided Worthstart Africa offices in Pension towers after thousands of the company's victims recorded statements with the police on how they were conned millions of shillings under the guise that the preacher would help them secure jobs abroad and visas. 

DCI officers also carted away computers and other office records to help in the investigation. 

According to the police, more than 4000 job seekers each paid a fee ranging from Ksh.100,000 to Ksh.140,000 to Pastor Wanjohi’s Worthstart Africa as agency fees for the processing of their overseas job application and visa processing fees. 

The job seekers say they were promised they would get the jobs and travel out of the country in three months, but the agency started ignoring their calls and enquiries.

“Walikua wanatuambia process ni 3 months. From July to December na nikuja huku wanaanza kua rude. Haki itendeke turudishiwe pesa yetu,” said a victim.

“After kulipa ukishaenda there’s no communication until you come and confront them.”

Police say the Preacher's victims range from young people fresh out of school to older people seeking to secure their children’s future, with a majority of the victims being members of his church ‘Jesus Culture Ministry’ in Roysambu who placed their absolute faith - and money in their pastor. 

One of his victims laments that she took out a Chama loan to pay for her orphaned grandchild to go work in Canada, but 6 months later, she is Ksh.150,000 poorer

“Nikaona huyu mtoto shida inazidi na hakuna kazi. Nikachukua pesa kwa wamama nikamlipia, siku ya kwanza i paid 140k alafu nikalipa 10k ikakua 150k wakasema wewe ngoja nitakuita,” another victim added.

The victims say they sensed trouble when all applicants and job seekers were met with a familiar line after making the requisite payment of KSh 150,000 - that their visa application had been denied.

The other thing is that we have over 200 applicants hakuna yule ashawahi pata visa, kwani kila mtu ana fail kweli?

Police have arrested most of the directors and senior staff of the recruitment agency, and are looking for the self-styled preacher who is the founder and mastermind of the racket. 

Wanjohi allegedly went into hiding after his victims started recording statements with the police. Authorities say he has conned job seekers over six hundred million shillings. His victims now want the flamboyant city preacher to refund their hard-earned monies.

"Hio pesa yote sasa shosho kama mimi kulipa mkopo na uko na shida ingine si ni mbaya aki watusaidie watuitishie hio pesa," a victim noted.

"Pesa zangu mimi nataka juu hata ni loan nilikua nimechukua na niko na mtoto na sina kazi."