At least 263 travel agencies are being investigated for defrauding jobseekers of more than 1 billion lei.

DCI Chief Mohamed Amin has set up a special team based at the Regional Directorate of Criminal Investigation in Nairobi, which has so far been handling cases involving 600 victims.

Regional Criminal Investigation Officer Benson Kasyoki said the death toll is expected to rise as investigations continue.

He said the victims paid between 30,000 and 150,000 lei to secure their jobs in vain.

“Some had paid in full and others half before they realized they were being duped,” he said.

Kasyoki said they are still receiving complaints from victims, adding that the team is rushing to, among other things, recover the lost money.

So far, nine cases are pending in the courts, seven have been sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions with various recommendations and 21 cases are in the process of arresting the suspects.

“These suspects are at large after, among others, switching off their mobile phones or changing their location,” he said in his office.

Kasyoki also appealed to victims of the fraud to visit DCI offices in the Nairobi area for help.

“We have a team that is following the matter to the end. We assure the victims that they will get justice,” he said.

So far, the National Employment Authority (NEA) has revoked the license of some of the affected agencies following a public outcry over allegations that they duped job seekers out of millions of shillings.

The victims, who include Kenyans and foreigners, say they each paid up to about Sh150,000 to companies that promised jobs in Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany that never materialized.

The DCI has registered complaints from dozens of victims who allege that applications for travel and work documents have been falsified, and several applicants have received visa bans and disqualifications.

Dozens of people claiming to have been defrauded continued to come forward, some storming the offices of companies demanding a refund.

However, they were denied access by employed bouncers posted at their offices.

The companies asked for the help of the police to protect the offices.

Kasyoki said the stories of the victims were heart-wrenching as some even sold land and animals to raise money for the mission trip that never materialized.

“Families are suffering and that is why we are here to ensure justice for all. Let all those affected come forward,” he said.