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| Pictures by BENJOSTORY.COM |
Waiting, waiting, waiting, in this hot Kisumu sun that now
reads 29˚c
according to my android, waiting for one honorable ng’anene, with my black
lada, rubers from the words of my people, which are now roasting my size 43
feet. One hour later of trying all the human postures showing am relentlessly
out of patience and by now I can do an advert of the products advertised along
Varsity way, Jameson- Triple Distilled
Twice as Smooth, UAP – Better Simple
Life. I almost forget how tired, upset and dehydrated am getting.
I can’t take it no more, I chuck a boda from varsity way
head to United Mall, just behind it are streets that lead to the legendary Mama
Hassan, next to me is a plate of one of her delicious coasto viazi karai
“bhajia”. Getting good Swahili dishes in Kisumu is a hustle but highly
recommending Swahili Dishes Kisumu and Mama Hassan, once in a while when I get
homesick I go for a biryani, pilau or the bhajia.
After am done with my meal that’s cost 50/=, I sit glaring
at the handful people either eating or gossiping, I notice that this place that
normally flocks is very empty, all the high-schoolers and varsity students are
nowhere in sight, utajuaje ni week ya exam, then I get a message from an
unknown number.
“Dear applicant, I am glad to inform you that
you qualified to work with KNBS following your application. Kindly check this
link for more information (http://tiny.cc/n6wx3y) and comply with our
requirement before 12:00 Noon tomorrow. Thanks.”
Being the unemployed Kenyan I am,
I am obviously excited by the words dear applicant I am glad……. clicked the
link it directs me to a site, one KNBS ENUMERATOR JOBS 2019, walahi am excited
the way I heard those jobs pay, I already start picturing me getting a new pair
or a new hair-do. The site has details this seems legit, I read through to
regards by one Dr Kabongah and nod, the Dr name sales the deal, filling the
last details I notice a request for payment at the end (scum alert), I go back read
the whole thing word for word.
“Your medical assessment costs KES
5,400. The organization shall pay for you KES 2,700 (half the cost). You are
supposed to pay the remaining KES 2,700. You are therefore required to pay KES
950 either to our Nakuru branch office situated on 2nd Floor, AFC
Nakuru town or send through MPESA to 0759393382 (Safaricom line) -Denis Mwangi
(Supervisor).”
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At this point I am utterly shocked
and mind blown.
“This payment must be done by
latest 2nd April, 2019 (Tuesday) at 12:00 Noon. The remaining KES
1,750 shall be deducted directly from your first salary. This partial payment
will secure you a chance for medical assessment and must be done within the
time frame allocated. Please note that this exercise is coordinated only at our
Nakuru branch offices and not at the headquarters. If you pay through MPESA you
shall immediately receive a scanned receipt in out email for the payment.”
OUTRIGHT CON
Scum! Scum! Scum!
To anyone whose experiencing this
or has received such messages, I denounce them. Yaani sisi the ordinary
mwananchi having helb officers looking for us to now joint forces of Tala,
Branch and Fuliza, then a fellow Kenyan or say two or three want to fish the
little out of you. How many people have they targeted so far with that scheme
of KES 950 and KES 2,700.
Then I remember early Monday
morning, busy hearing the children from Kings and Queens Academy sing the
national anthem, while seeing my neighbor run out of his house late again, Mse
ni Monday, I get this call from one Michael Wandira who claims to be a
journalist at Nation Media Group and heard that I was a communication student
and that there was an opportunity for me, he’d call back in 30 minutes. That
day my voice was as smooth as the voice over artists at NRG Radio, finally my
breakthrough, the guy call says he’ll connect me with his boss. Aaaahhh am like
oooh okay cool, anyway ain’t the Kenyan job market about connections. Me and my
mouth I text my good friend Mavo whose an intern at the supposed same NTV, tell
him of the great news he’s happy but reluctant asks me who recommended me to the
journalist, I tell his friend Mr. X, huyo ni mse wa “booty call” he laughs.
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The conversation about my
opportunity goes on for hours until they ask for my CV and Cover letter, I
comply send it to the email they sent me, now apparently they inform me its not
NMG but an NGO called Life and Hope International Kenya, now my bells ring, I
go back to Mavo tell him to drop everything and head to NMG human resource who denounce
knowing such people, on this other side, they notify me it is possible am a
highly qualified candidate but being an NGO I need to register in the NGOs
Board of Kenya and it required an amount of KES 4,800, see one thing about
today is that technology has made things easier, I didn’t have to tie a note to
a bird to get the information I needed.
I got on phone texted one of the
best PROs of Kenya and he sent me the number of NGOS Coordination Board of
Kenya, because of continuous crimes I will leave it here +254 202214044, spoke
to a lady from the offices and all that I heard were;
"OUTRIGHT
CON"
Now I honestly have heard cases
where people were conned to their last bits and all I can say today is we have
to stay woke, be on the constant look out for such crimes and not easily fall
victim to these schemes.
Just saying, what happened to the mwananchi
earning his or her own hard work money, we have to be on the know con is
real from business, to our politicians even the relationships we value. Lets
not fall victim of outright con.
