Police in Mlolongo have arrested three people including a pastor for obtaining money from a suspected pyramid syndicate run in a church in Mlolongo town.
The Operation was conducted by Mlolongo division security team lead by Assistant county Commissioner Dennis Ongaga on Thursday, July 22 evening.
Speaking to K24 Digital on Thursday, Ongaga said they have been receiving numerous complaints from parents about an American based NGO operating in Mlolongo but which is based in Kitengela conning them money in the pretext of sponsoring their children to get education.
The security agents pounced on their unsuspecting victims at New Christ Restoration Centre church located along the stream of water within Mlolongo Phase 2 slum a few metres from Assissi Nursing Home in Mlolongo.
The Assistant Commissioner said security committee had some time back demanded from the said NGO their registration certificates, and letters of introduction from the county commissioner or the regional commissioner as prove they were not dubious but they failed.
He added that the request aimed at ensuring Mlolongo residents are not conned of their money by NGOs pretending to be bringing help to residents.
“Even though we warned this NGO to present to us the certificates, they failed. Today we got intelligence they were at work at New Christ Restoration Centre church.” Ongaga said.
“He said they found more than 100 women and children of different ages being registered in the church,” continued Ongaga
Those arrested claim to be agents of Global Foundation Alliance based in Kitengela Kajiado County. They are; Arikan Njeru Mtembei (pastor), Davis Malonzi and Peter Mbithi.
Pastor Njeru who claims to be the foundation’s coordinator said they collected from their victims Ksh300, 500, and 800 apiece for victims with children in primary, secondary and university respectively.
Ongaga said Ksh.49, 200 in proceeds was recovered from the three and presented to the DCI as part of exhibit to be produced in court.
“There is also huge sum of money sent through M-PESA to the cellphone of one of the agents who has been helping in registration and we arrested the directors and his accomplice,” he added.
The victims have been complaining that the suspected cons keep demanding money from them with some paying over Ksh2500 but none has had his children sponsored.
When interrogated the pastor said the collected money was meant for aiding in funeral arrangements of a church member, but not to help in sponsoring the vulnerable children’s education.
The Mlolongo Head of security committee requested parents who have been defrauded money to write statements with the Mlolongo police Department of Criminal Investigations to help investigations and legal actions against the suspects.
“The parents who gave out money today, we tell them their money has been confiscated and handed to the DCI as exhibit,” he said.
The ACC said Mlolongo town which is based along Mombasa- Nairobi Highway has several suspicious CBOs from outside the Machakos County swindling money from public lying to sponsor their education.
He warned security team was alert to the cartels and swift legal action was being taken against them.
Ongaga either warned parents against paying money in form of bribes to get a bursary from the National Government Constituency Development Fund NG-CDF of any sponsorship for their children education.
