A TikToker, Maria Wangari Kamunge alias Rish Kamunge, who is suspected of being behind an overseas job scam, was on Friday freed on a Sh5 million bond by a Nairobi court.

Kamunge was arrested and arraigned in court over the fraud allegation with some of her victims alleging that they had lost between Sh200,000 and Sh400,000.

Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina granted Kamunge the bond following her arrest on March 26, 2025.

In urging the Magistrate not to free her, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said that the police needed more time to conclude the probe that they said goes to Mauritius, where most of the reported victims ended up.

Her defence team said that the police had not demonstrated how her being out on bond would affect their investigation.

In the end, Magistrate Onyina said that the DPP failed to give compelling reasons for the police to continue detaining her. 

“The prosecution has not demonstrated that the suspect’s safety is at risk or provided evidence of multiple complainants filing grievances,” said Onyina.

He, however, directed her to report to the investigating officer of the case whenever required until the matter is concluded.

According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Kamunge, through her company Trustpine Verified Agent Limited promised Kenyans jobs abroad at a fee.

The company’s offices are located in Nairobi’s CBD, and she used the TikTok social media site TikTok to recruit her members.

DCI claims that after receiving the money, she allegedly never fulfilled her part of the deal, and the victims were unable to reach her.

The police claim that the first complaint was registered on January 1, 2025, with the latest being on March 20.

They further claim that the alleged victims were alleged to send the money via mobile money, which is registered under Kamunge.

The victims, who had parted away with money and were yet to get jobs, then tried to reach out using the same number but were unsuccessful, prompting them to report the matter to the police.

DCI claims that after the complainants started coming forward, Kamunge reportedly went into hiding until she was apprehended on March 26.

The police claimed that Kamunge’s arrest resulted from citizen action; public members arrested her from her office and handed her over to the officers at the Central Police Station.

DCI says that a total of 43 victims sent Sh13 million to Kamunge.

Since Kamunge’s arrest, four more victims have come forward with similar complaints.

This comes as Saturday Standard learned that DCI detectives in Nairobi Area are investigating more than 35 companies connected to overseas job opportunities.

According to the Regional Criminal Investigations Officer Benson Kasyoki, the number of people filing complaints of being conned in overseas jobs has increased.

Kasyoki said a majority of these companies they are currently investigating for job scams are not registered.