Tens of residents from Murang'a are crying foul after being swindled off their money by a county government employee who had promised them job opportunities.
The victims claimed that the culprit only identified as Mercy told them there was a recruitment exercise for the casual workers by the county and she will help them be enrolled.
Edwin Maina one of the victims said he was given a form to fill his personal details and was to submit it back but he was required to give Ksh10,000.
"The deal appeared so real and because I was desperate for a job I didn't have a second thought about it," he said.
"The suspect gave us her phone number and a second one which she claimed belonged to her boss who we could raise our issues to if need be," he added.
Maina said he was given the job of a supervisor to monitor the other casual workers in their stations of work.
He said Mercy maintained contact for the first few days and this made him think she was in control but this was not the case.
Caroline Wangui has worked for three months now since signing what she believes were fake contract papers back in June.
Wangui said she religiously did her cleaning duties in Mumbi estate where she was assigned to work.
"When we went to two months without a pay, I called her to enquire about it and she told me to wait until the new governor is sworn into the office," she said.
"I kept hoping this was genuine because other staff in the county also had their pay delayed for a month," Wangui added.
Tuesday morning the supervisor called the suspect seeking an audience with her but she declined and only told him they be patient for their dues to be paid but this made him suspect they could have been duped into a fake deal.
Confirming this, Murang'a East OCPD Mary Wakuu said the suspect is in police custody and investigation into the matter has started.
PHOTO/Wangari Njuguna.
She said the victims have recorded their statement on the matter as they were approached by the suspect on diverse dates.
"The suspect will be arraigned in court tomorrow morning ," She said.
