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"id": 1299221,
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"speaker_name": "Sen. Mbugua",
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"id": 899,
"legal_name": "Mary Njoki G Mbugua",
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"content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, Pursuant to Standing Order No.238, I wish to table the report of the Standing Committee of the Labour and Social welfare on the Petition by Mr. Kimutai Kirui and other residents of Uasin Gishu County, concerning alleged fraud by a First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy agency. The Petitioners, Mr. Kimutai Kirui and Mr. Cleophas Arap Koech, representing an estimated 5,000 young people, were drawing the attention of the Senate to the matter regarding the agency. The petitioners indicated that First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency Limited based in Eldoret - (1) Obtained money from an estimated 5,000 youth to facilitate their placement for jobs and studies abroad, during the period before the start of the 2022 World Cup. (2) However, the agency failed to facilitate the said jobs and studies placement, leaving the youth and their families vulnerable and desperate, with the initial hopes of securing employment and study placement dwindling. (3) The agency had influenced the efforts of the affected youth to seek redress through the relevant agencies, such as the police and the County Commissioner, hence making it difficult and unsuccessful. (4) The victims continue to face profiling, threats, intimidation, mocking and ridicule with some facing arrests without due process or charges levelled against them. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Committee held a siting with the management of First Choice Recruitment and Consultancy Agency Limited. The Committee also held meetings with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Ministry of Health, the National Employment Authority (NEA), the Commissioner of Insurance, the Inspector General of Police, the Data Protection Commissioner among others. The Committee also met leaders who had been adversely mentioned in the Petition. This includes the former Governor and current Senator of Uasin Gishu County, Sen. Jackson Mandago MP; the former Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the current Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and Micro and Small Enterprise, Hon. Simon Chelugui; and, renowned business man, Mr. David Lagat, who is also based in Uasin Gishu County. The general observations of the Committee are – (1) The Petition brought out levels of desperation among the citizens, since majority of the victims of the Agency were unemployed and under employed youth, aged between 25 and 35 years across Uasin Gishu County and its environs. The youths were desperately searching for improved livelihoods and had to sell property like land, motorbikes and take loans in order to fund their travel abroad. (2) The victims’ dealings with the agency had resulted into even greater risk of loss of livelihoods, broken friendship and relationships, accrued debts and ill health, including depression and suicide. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard Services,Senate."
}