A court in Eldoret has cancelled a bond that had been granted to a man alleged to have been involved in a Sh12 million foreign jobs scam, which affected multiple families in the region.
The suspect had disappeared after being charged for allegedly defrauding 18 Uasin Gishu youths, pretending he was in a position to secure job opportunities for them in Australia.
Principal magistrate Cherono Kesse cancelled the bond terms for Joseph Keino after he failed to attend both mediation and court sessions.
Keino, who had been freed on Sh3 million bond, reportedly went into hiding and was yesterday arraigned in court after arrest warrants were issued against him.
Police arrested the suspect in Nairobi before he was brought back to the court, where the prosecution said he was a flight risk and should have his bond terms cancelled.
"The court has noted that the accused failed to adhere to the bond terms despite the fact that this is not a light matter and I therefore direct that the bond terms are hereby cancelled. The accused will remain in custody," Kesse said.
The court's decision is also aimed at protecting the security of the accused person himself, as the public was now baying for his blood, she added.
"There is also the need to protect the victims in the matter and to ensure public order, peace and security prevail," the magistrate said.
Kesse urged that court decisions and orders be respected, saying the accused disobeyed the same without giving any reasons as to why he was unable to attend the court sessions.
"He shall remain in custody during the hearing of this case until determination," ordered the magistrate.
The prosecution and the victims’ advocate, Edwin Ruto, told the court that Keino had failed to attend court.
Ruto claimed that Keino failed to cooperate with the mediator during the period granted by the court so that he could settle the matter with the victims.
"Out of the five mediation sessions, the accused person only attended one session and often hindered the process by switching off his mobile phone whenever the matter was set for mediation meetings," argued the lawyer.
In his defence, Keino's lawyer, Elijah Ayieko, blamed gaps in communication between the mediation registry and the courts.
He claimed that his client had attended all court sessions and mediation without fail.
However, the magistrate noted that the court records unequivocally revealed that Keino last attended court on March 10, when the matter was referred to court-annexed mediation.
"The mediator filed a report to the Deputy Registrar of mediation, who in turn informed this court that there was non-compliance on the part of the accused person and therefore mediation was not successful," Kesse said.
The matter was referred back to court and given two mention dates in May, which the accused also absconded, forcing warrants of arrest to be issued.
"I note that the accused person was released on bond on September 27, 2024. In granting the accused person bond, this court was mandated to observe his obligations while out on bond. I note that the accused person has been presented to court under warrants of arrest, having been arrested in Nairobi and transported all the way to Eldoret," Kesse stated.
Jael Jepkoech, the second accused person, is still at large. Police are seeking Interpol's assistance to arrest and bring her back to the country to face charges.
