In a recent case of financial fraud, two individuals, Christopher Juma and Rosebrenda Obuya, are now facing charges for allegedly creating a bogus organization known as Bottomline Unique Association and swindling hundreds of unsuspecting citizens out of their money. The duo promised their victims access to the so-called “Hustler Fund” loans and grants from international sources, all under false pretenses.
Juma, the primary suspect, is charged with obtaining money through deception, after reportedly defrauding victim Elizabeth Onyango out of Sh569,830. Juma and Obuya, co-founders of the fraudulent association, are jointly accused of conspiracy to defraud, as they are believed to have worked together to collect membership fees under the guise that their organization was officially registered.
Between January 13 and March 30, 2023, the pair allegedly collected membership fees of Sh1,000 from hundreds of people, amassing a substantial sum. They now face additional charges of forging official documents, as they are accused of falsifying a certificate of registration for their fictitious association.
Authorities intervened and halted the scam after an investigation revealed that Bottomline Unique Association was not, in fact, registered with the government. Onyango, who had been employed as a recruitment officer and had unknowingly participated in the scheme, is now listed as the main witness in the case.
Juma and Obuya held positions as Secretary General and CEO of the association, respectively. While they claimed their organization was registered under registrar of societies Mary Goretti Nyariki, police constable Moses Okello’s investigation revealed the truth: the association was unregistered, and the documentation held by the suspects was counterfeit.
When victims, such as Onyango, failed to see the promised benefits after months of participation, they began to question the legitimacy of the organization. However, Juma and Obuya offered no satisfactory explanations.
The accused have denied the charges and appeared before Chief Magistrate Francis Kyambia of Makadara Law Courts. Their defense attorney, Philip Makori, argued that the charges stemmed from internal leadership disputes within the association. The court released the suspects on a bond of Sh100,000 or an alternative cash bail of Sh50,000. The case is set to be mentioned on June 29, 2023, with the hearing scheduled for October 2, 2023.