A Member of the County Assembly (MCA) from Kisii County has been arrested following allegations that he defrauded several residents by promising to secure them travel opportunities to Canada. The MCA was arraigned on Wednesday, November 19, before Senior Principal Magistrate John Nyariki at the Kisii Law Courts, where he faced charges related to obtaining money through false pretences.
According to court documents, the MCA is accused of defrauding a woman of Ksh180,000 between 2022 and 2023 after allegedly promising to facilitate her travel to Canada. However, he denied the accusations, insisting he never received Ksh183,000 as claimed by the complainant.
The court released the MCA on a Ksh100,000 bail, but the prosecution strongly opposed his release. Prosecutors argued that more victims had come forward with similar complaints, with several residents alleging they had lost hundreds of thousands of shillings in the suspected scam. The prosecution further claimed that the MCA posed a flight risk and urged the court to impose stringent bail conditions.
Through his lawyer, the MCA dismissed these arguments, stating that the prosecution had not provided affidavits or supporting evidence to justify restrictive bail terms. His legal team further argued that bail is a constitutional right, adding that as an elected leader, he remains accessible and unlikely to flee.
The drama continued after the court session when DCI officers reportedly re-arrested the MCA immediately after he exited the courtroom. This second arrest was linked to a separate complaint filed by another resident who claimed he was defrauded of Ksh70,000 in a similar Canada travel promise.
Investigations into the multiple allegations are still ongoing as more residents are expected to record statements. The case has raised concerns over rising travel-related scams in the region, with authorities urging the public to remain vigilant and verify all migration or overseas job offers before committing their money.
