Labor and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary nominee Alfred Mutua has denied knowing Judy Chepchirchir, the CEO of First Choice Employment Agency.
He was responding to a question by a member about his relations with the CEO where he is said to have introduced her to the president at an event at KICC.
Chepchirchir is the woman who was at the centre of the controversial overseas employment agency in Uasin Gishu in August 2023.
Appearing for vetting, Mutua explained that she only met her for the first time at an event attended by President William Ruto at KICC “and from there, I have never met her again”.
“We had a function at KICC where we had different stands, that of the Foreign Affairs was next to that of Labor and I had never met this,” he said.
“The minister then was showcasing the programs they had, and when the president came we were told to combine the two issues of labor because of Diaspora at that time...I was there with my PS and others and I was introducing the president to the people who were presenting and if you watch the clip, I didn’t even know her name and she introduced herself,” Mutua said.
The former CS was the second nominee to appear before the Moses Wetangula-led Committee on Appointments for vetting.
Mutua is among the 10 former CSs who are set to make a comeback in cabinet if approved.
Chepchirchir is the face behind the Uasin-Gishu County education scholarship where parents are alleged to have lost their money in the program.
In a past address, she clarified that they don’t engage in securing education opportunities nor do they send workers to Finland.
“We secure employment opportunities to countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Poland, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom only,” Chepchirchir asserted.
Chepchirchir also claimed that some politicians were out to cripple her business.
She further said she already refunded money to 448 potential workers who failed to secure employment as earlier promised.
Chepchirchir also clarified that she had nothing to hide.
