Milimani Magistrate Court, on Friday, March 28, 2025, released Maria Wangari Kamunge, popularly known on TikTok as Rish Kamunge, on a Ksh5 million personal bond without surety.
Delivering the ruling, Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina said that the grounds the Investigative Officer (IO) Joseph Karanja stated in the miscellaneous application are not strong enough to hold Kamunge for seven days.
“I have not seen the existence of any compelling reasons warranting the detention of the respondent for seven days; the application is not merited and is hereby declined,” Chief Magistrate Onyina ruled.
However, Onyina directed that she should avail herself anytime she is needed by the investigative officer to assist in the investigations on the matters reported against her.
Kamunge is accused of obtaining money under false pretences, contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code, Chapter 63 Laws of Kenya, by promising some Kenyans overseas jobs.
According to a supporting affidavit in a miscellaneous application by the investigative officer (IO) Joseph Karanja, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) sought to detain Kamunge for seven days to enable completion of investigations.
Victims reported paying between Sh200,000 and Sh400,000 for job placements, only to discover that the promised opportunities were nonexistent.
Some individuals even travelled to Mauritius, where they found themselves stranded at the airport without assistance and were ultimately deported back to Kenya.
Investigations have revealed that a total of 43 victims sent Sh12.9 million to the suspect.
Rish Kamunge appeared in court for custodial orders and was subsequently remanded at Capital Hill Police Station.
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