Murang’a woman regrets conning friends in job scam that landed her in prison for 4 years

• A promise of easy county job opportunities set off a chain of events that led a Murang’a woman to prison
• Mercy Wambui convinced her closest friends to pay for what seemed like a secure deal, only for things to turn sour
• When the arrangement suddenly fell apart, the real architects of the plan disappeared, leaving her to face the consequences

A Murang’a woman is living with the painful aftermath of a scheme that saw her convince more than 15 of her own friends to part with their money in exchange for non-existent county jobs.

Mercy Wambui Mucoki, a mother of three, says the decision destroyed her relationships, her reputation, and her family life.

When was Mercy employed in the county?

She opened up about how she ended up serving four years in prison after what she describes as a “promise that was never real”

Wambui told Itugi TV that the scam involved alleged employment opportunities in Murang’a County government.

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Mercy says her troubles began after she secured a job in 2012 as a cleaner in the county government, a role that later saw her promoted to supervisor.

Years later, in 2022, she was approached by three individuals she believed to be senior county officials, who promised her access to cleaning job slots within the county system.

How much did Mercy receive from victims?

Believing the opportunity was genuine, Mercy says she shared the information with friends and acquaintances who were struggling to find work.

What followed was a chain of payments, with at least 17 people sending between KSh 10,000 and KSh 20,000 each through M-Pesa, money that later became key evidence in court.

“I was told to collect the money and assure them the jobs were secured,” Mercy said. “I trusted the process because it looked official.”

But the promised jobs never materialised. Instead, the officials who initiated the deal disappeared with the money, leaving her to face the consequences alone when investigations began.

What was Mercy charged with?

She would later be charged with obtaining money by false pretences and became the sole person held responsible for the collapsed scheme.

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According to the ex-convict, the payments sent via mobile money formed part of the prosecution’s evidence in court.

Mercy says she struggled to explain how she had become the link between her friends and the alleged officials who have since vanished without a trace.

“They disappeared with the money, but I was the one left to face everything,” she said.

How long was Mercy’s jail term?

Mercy was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison, a period she says changed her life irreversibly.

While she has since regained her freedom, she describes the experience as one marked by regret, loss, and separation from her children, who were left struggling in her absence.

“I lost my friends, I lost my job, and I lost time with my children,” she said. “Life outside prison is not the same anymore.”

Now out of prison, Mercy says she is trying to rebuild her life while coming to terms with the damage caused by what she once believed was a legitimate opportunity.

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Londiani woman in jail over romance

In Londiani, 22-year-old Mercy Mwende is serving a 20-year jail term after an encounter with a young man she met on Facebook landed her in trouble.

Mercy had just finished high school when she started talking to the stranger, a friendship that developed into a romantic relationship.

A would-be exciting trip to meet the man in Elburgon turned her life upside down when she was arrested for being with a teenager.

Source: NgGossips