Businessman James Wanjohi has stepped forward to defend himself against links to claims of visa fraud that have reportedly affected 4,000 Kenyans who claim to have lost over Sh600 million.
Wanjohi has termed the allegations linking him as not only fictitious but also aimed at tarnishing his reputation and that of his company.
Wanjohi also clarified that he is no longer associated with a church mission; refuting claims of being a preacher insisting he abandoned it two years ago.
“It is a lie. We do not have a church in Roysambu called Jesus Culture Ministry for the last two years. I agree, I do build churches and give them to pastors and bishops, it’s my calling,” he said.
Regarding his company, Worthstart, Wanjohi admitted to facilitating visa processing for those wishing to travel abroad but emphasized that approval is not guaranteed, as it depends on the discretion of the Embassy.
“We do visa facilitation but it is not everybody that gets it just like in any company or any other part of the world. It is not a 100 percent guarantee that any company will ever give you. It is the ambassadors that issue but if they deny you we give you a second chance for free,” he said.
According to Wanjohi, the whole issue is a witch-hunt and business rivalry being orchestrated by his foes who he argued are keen on bringing him down.
Worthstart Company, he stated, has been in existence for less than a year and there is no way he could have gained up to 4,000 clients in such a short period.
"I have a contract with every client that comes to Worthstart and my work ends when I hand them over to the Embassy because beyond that I have no other power,” Wanjohi remarked.
He further dismissed claims he is being sought by detectives over the matter noting he is yet to receive any official summons.
The businessman who once contested for the Roysambu parliamentary seat stated that he has only seen it on the news.
On April 24, detectives raided Worthstart Africa offices located at Pension towers in Nairobi as part of the probe into the matter.
This is after some of the victims who alleged to have lost money recorded statements with the police.
The officers are said to have carted away computers among other documents.
Reports from the police say the complainants paid an agency fee ranging from Sh100,000-Sh140, 000 to have their overseas job and visa applications.
They are said to have been promised that they would travel out of the country in three months.
“They were telling us the process will take three months, but after the lapse of the period they do not communicate” said one of the victims.
“After paying there is no communication until you come and confront them,” another victim lamented.
The majority of the alleged victims, police say, were members of the Jesus Culture Ministry.
The victims are now demanding a refund of their money.