Renowned TikTok influencer Maria Wangari Kamunge, popularly known as Rish Kamunge was on Thursday, March 27, 2025, arraigned in a Nairobi court over allegations of defrauding Kenyans seeking overseas job opportunities.
Kamunge, who operates an agency known as Trustpin Verified Agent Ltd, faces accusations of conning unsuspecting job seekers millions of shillings with promises of job placements abroad that never materialized.
Despite the serious allegations, Kamunge was not charged during the court appearance after the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), requested additional time to detain her to complete their investigation.
They urged Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina to grant police a seven-day custodial order to continue holding Kamunge at central police station as they finalize their probe into the job scandal allegations.
In an affidavit submitted to the court, investigating officer Joseph Karanja outlined the details of the ongoing investigation, which is centered around accusations of obtaining money by false pretenses.
According to the prosecution, Kamunge was on Wednesday March 26, 2025 arrested after angry members of the public confronted her following numerous complaints about her fraudulent activities.
“Releasing her at this stage of the case would put her life in danger,” the prosecutor argued in court.
“Angry members of the public might harm her due to the serious nature of the allegations against her.”
Kamunge is accused of running an agency that promised job placements abroad in exchange for hefty facilitation fees, ranging from Ksh 200,000 to Ksh 300,000.
However, after receiving the payments, Kamunge allegedly failed to deliver the promised jobs and went into hiding, leaving the victims with no recourse, the court heard.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Kamunge had been operating her agency for some time, frequently traveling outside the country and scamming unsuspecting clients.
Karanja in his affidavit detailed the series of events that led to Kamunge’s arrest.
“Between January 1, 2025 and March 20, 2025, various complainants lodged reports with the DCI, alleging that they paid large sums of money to Kamunge’s agency for assistance with overseas employment,” CPL Karanja stated.
“However, after receiving the payments, Kamunge failed to provide any services, and she disappeared without a trace.”
The court heard that among the victims who have made reports to the DCi include Judith Bosibori.
The investigation further revealed that Kamunge was tracked down in Nairobi’s Central Business District on March 26, 2025, after being missing for nearly two months.
She was arrested by members of the public and handed over to the police.
Since her arrest, additional victims have come forward with similar complaints.
According to the prosecution, Kamunge’s agency primarily operated through mobile payments, with many job seekers transferring the requested facilitation fees via M-Pesa to a number registered under her name.
“We are still in the process of collecting crucial evidence, including M-Pesa transaction records and witness testimonies from the complainants,” CPL Karanja explained.
“This is why we are requesting an extension of Kamunge’s detention to allow us to complete our investigation.”
Kamunge’s defense team, however, vehemently opposed the application for further detention, arguing that the reasons presented by the prosecution were insufficient.
Through her lawyer, Kamunge denied any wrongdoing and told the court that she had been attacked while at her workplace, asserting that there was no compelling reason presented by the state to hold her in custody.
“My client was attacked while performing her duties, and the application to detain her does not provide any reasonable cause,” her lawyer stated.
“We request that the court grants her bail, preferably in the form of a reasonable cash bail as investigations into the matter continues.”
However, Magistrate Onyina noted the gravity of the case and the potential risks to Kamunge’s safety if released into the public
Kamunge was ordered to remain in custody at Capitol Hill Police Station until March 28, 2025, when a ruling will be made regardingthe seven-day custodial order sought by the state.
