Unemployed teachers looking for work have lost over Ksh40 million to fraudsters promising them jobs with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Detectives attached to TSC have arrested four suspects in Bomet County in connection with this massive recruitment scam that has left countless job seekers devastated.
Among those arrested is a TSC Director from Konoin Sub-County, alongside a former Bomet County Woman Representative aspirant and two teachers.
The four were arraigned before the Bomet Law Courts, where detectives secured 14-day custodial orders to facilitate comprehensive investigations.
Investigations reveal that the suspects targeted desperate job seekers, demanding huge sums of money in exchange for forged TSC appointment letters.
The fake letters promised permanent and pensionable employment with the commission.
A number of victims reportedly took out loans, sold their property, or depleted their life savings in pursuit of these phantom jobs.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), in a statement on Friday, stated that it remains resolute in dismantling criminal networks that exploit job seekers and undermine public confidence in government institutions.
According to the DCI, the fraud network is believed to extend beyond Bomet County to Kericho, Narok, Kisii, and Nyamira counties.
DCI stressed that efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest additional suspects linked to the syndicate operating across these regions.
The scam comes at a particularly sensitive time as Kenyans anticipate massive teacher recruitment in early 2026.
President William Ruto announced that TSC will recruit an additional 24,000 teachers in the coming weeks, with the new hires expected to report to classrooms in January 2026.
This recruitment forms part of a larger government initiative to hire 100,000 teachers within three years to address the country's acute teacher shortage.
With 76,000 teachers already hired between 2023 and 2025, the incoming batch will complete the 100,000 target and bring the government closer to its ultimate goal of recruiting 116,000 teachers by 2027.
The DCI has cautioned the public to remain vigilant and verify all recruitment opportunities through official TSC channels, emphasising that "TSC does not charge any fees for employment."
Victims who have not yet reported the fraud are urged to come forward through the toll-free line 0800 722 203 or WhatsApp at 0709 570 000.
