Hundreds of students who were looking forward to traveling abroad to take up professional courses at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions supposedly under an international student placement programme are now crying for justice.
In a matter that is now under police investigation, a Nairobi-based college had promised the students placements in universities and colleges of their choice in any country across the globe.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Branka International College situated along Mfangano Road, Hakati House in Nairobi is now under active investigation following numerous complaints by the institution’s alumni.
Each parent paid Sh350,000, for a one-week course with a promise of securing jobs in the USA, Europe, and Australia.
“The students are subjected to a continuous waiting mode while others are dropped for reasons of not meeting the minimum requirements,” DCI said in a statement.
Parents demanding refunds are threatened with legal suits
The DCI described the case as a modern-day case of fraud as the culprits who are yet to record statements refused to refund what they owe.
“An estimated sum of Sh70 million defrauded from victims is in question,” the DCI added.
The parents were proud and hopeful that their children’s dreams of achieving academic and career success were in sight. The future looked bright and the greener pastures that come with the prestigious institutions were in sight.
Little did they know that the learning institution run by Ms Teresia Mumbi Kamau and her accomplice Thaitu Ng’ang’a & Associate (an advocate) would threaten them with legal suits in a bid to intimidate victims who are since demanding refunds or the agreed upon jobs abroad.
According to the ongoing investigations, detectives assigned to this investigation have tried in vain to interrogate Ms Mumbi to no avail.
“They have requested relevant licenses and documents including an accreditation certificate from TVET and proof of partnership, agreement, or contracts with USA, Europe, and Australia. But she has been non-compliant. She even went ahead to file for anticipatory bond application in the High Court.”
College registered as ‘unspecified business’
Since the complaints were raised and she got wind of the investigations, she has not been seen at the institution premises. The handymen who collaborated with her in the scheme have now been left to face the wrath of angry parents who want their money back, or revenge; whichever comes first and easiest.
Detectives have since revealed that the college whose operations kicked off in 2021 is not registered as a training institution.
“It has since been established that the college whose operations kicked off in 2021 is not registered as a training institution, and the proprietors only made several unsuccessful attempts to register it through online Technical and Vocational Education and Training Management Information System (TVET MIS) application portal recently after getting wind of the ongoing investigations,” stated the DCI.
Further investigations have revealed that the college is only registered as an unspecified business.
Some of the parents have since involved the authorities, making multiple reports at Nairobi Central and Kamukunji Police Stations.
“We call upon any other member of the public that has fallen victim to this fraudulence to report to the office of DCI Regional Headquarters Nairobi,” the DCI stated.
The DCI further cautioned students enrolling for courses in various tertiary-level institutions to be wary of the existence of such fraudulence.
“The expeditious conclusion of this case is being pursued in a deliberate effort to deliver justice to both the parties,” the DCI concluded.
