Parents, students cautioned against fake scholarship syndicate

Lugari, Wednesday June 21, 2023,

KNA, by Melechezedeck Ejakait

The government has cautioned Lugari residents against falling prey to fraudsters targeting vulnerable families and students with fake bursaries and scholarships.

Lugari Deputy County Commissioner Moses Gicharu told the press the scholarship scam has been going on for the last three years targeting

desperate parents in Mautuma and Marakusi location with non-existent scholarships in Bungoma County.

He revealed that they got wind of the ongoing fraud recently through various public forums after parents fleeced of money started complaining that their children are back home with huge school fees balances despite the full scholarship promise.

The administrator estimated that over 50 parents have fallen victim to the fraud although only a negligible number has come out to complain. He said: “We have received several complaints especially from Mautuma

and Marakusi location of conmen swindling money from vulnerable parents in pretence of securing scholarships for their children in a number of schools in Bungoma County.

“The parents are duped to pay Sh5000 for application and then later pay Sh7000 when the student is reporting to school. This is total fraud.”, said Gicharu.

“Recently the County Government and the National Constituency Development Fund have issued out bursaries and there was nowhere parents were required to pay for application, “he added. 

Gicharu urged the general public particularly the affected parents and students to make official complaints at the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) offices for action to be taken.

“We have decided as the Sub County Security committee to open up a case-file at the DCI office in Lumakanda to enable us track down the culprits.

We want all those who were duped to visit the office and make a formal report so that we can deal with the criminal syndicate.

We want this to be a lesson to the cartel and a deterrent to those with such intentions in future, “he said noting that they don’t want to hear of such cases again next year when form ones who are the main target will be joining secondary school.

Courtesy ; K. N. A