Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has reached out to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after conmen targeted her.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Thursday, March 19, Passaris, through her assistant, disclosed that the lawmaker had discovered her name was being soiled by conmen to fleece Nairobi residents.
He further disclosed that the legislator is working hand in hand with DCI officials to apprehend the perpetrators who are in the habit of asking for a facilitation fee from residents with a promise to award them grants of as much as Ksh 100,000.
"They are asking for a facilitation fee pretending to be officials from the Office of the Woman Rep and lying to social media users that they will help them secure grants worth Ksh 100,000 and bursaries.
"She has reported the matter to DCI sleuths who are carrying out investigations on the cartel and hope that they will catch them. They are yet to make any arrests," disclosed the PA.
On her social media account, Passaris clarified that her office does not solicit facilitation fees of any sort explaining that it is free for access by residents at any time.
She further clarified that none of her legitimate social media accounts was not verified urging the public to be alert.
"Beware of these and other fake accounts purporting to be me. I'm working with the DCI to apprehend the con-men and women behind them.
"All my social media pages are verified and my office does not need a 'facilitation fee' in order to serve you; our grants and bursaries are issued at zero cost," she warned.
An April 2019 article by Daily Nation disclosed that members of the National Assembly had grown susceptible of attacks by conmen with average losses running into millions of shillings.
Lawmakers were forced to contribute money to various schemes including non-existent funerals, fake hospital bills and whatnot.
For instance, in early 23019, Mbita MP Mille Odhiambo was conned into contributing money for a funeral in her constituency only to discover that there was no funeral at all.
