How religious group allegedly swindled Siaya parents, workers with job promises

Parents and workers from in Siaya County are counting losses after a religious organisation allegedly swindled them cash promising to secure them well-paying jobs. 

The organisation, Stewards of Grace International, presented itself as a faith-based charity committed to education support, community empowerment and mentorship.

Documents indicates that it was established in 2024 and is headquartered in Bondo town, from where it coordinated activities across Siaya county and other regions where it claimed to operate.

Months after the pledges were made, parents of the victim and former staff say they have been left in limbo, with repeated calls and messages to the organisation now going unanswered.

When Dorothy Achieng handed in her resignation letter, she believed she was stepping into a better future.

The offer on the table was a contract with Stewards of Grace International and a monthly salary of Sh72,000, almost double her previous pay. The work, she was told, would involve coordinating community outreach for vulnerable families.

Another victim, Jared Owuor, made a similar decision. As one of the early recruits and later described as a founder member, he was promised a structured role as a mentor in the same programme, complete with a monthly salary of Sh59,340, payable on or before the 29th of every month.

Apart from Owuor and Achieng, another victim, Sharon Anyango, an orphan, lost her job as a teacher in a private school, and her items were auctioned by her landlord after she failed to pay rent.

In a painful narration to The Standard, another victim recalled how he was forced to donate a coffin for an elderly man whom he had promised to help through the organisation.

“I had recruited the old man into the programme, and he died asking me for help. Out of guilt, I borrowed money from a shylock at a rate of 10 per cent after 20 days, knowing that I would get my salary to offset the loan,” narrated the victim, adding that he resorted to selling family grains to offset the debt.

For months, the programme coordinators and mentors carried messages of hope for struggling families, provided education support for children, offered livelihoods to the poor, and created jobs for the unemployed.

Community meetings were convened in churches, schools and open grounds, where residents were encouraged to register for what was presented as a structured, donor-backed programme targeting widows, orphans, persons living with disabilities, the elderly and low-income households.

But months later, that promise is at the centre of a growing dispute, with dozens of residents accusing the organisation of misleading them, collecting money and personal data, and engaging them under questionable labour arrangements.

According to victims interviewed by The Standard, each participating family was assured of education support for up to three children, with parents required to pay Sh100 per child.

The contribution, they say, was described as a commitment fee rather than a payment for aid.

The organisation also promised to fund livelihood projects following the submission of community-developed proposals, which members were told would be reviewed and financed by donors.

Parents were further organised into clusters, which organisers allegedly said were each linked to specific donors, reinforcing the belief that funding was guaranteed and already secured.

According to victims, delays in delivering promised support soon emerged. Meetings became irregular, communication slowed, and explanations for the delays kept changing.

Some members say organisers stopped responding altogether, while others say they were discouraged from asking questions.

A review of available government records showed that Stewards of Grace International could not be traced in official registration databases at the time of publication, raising questions about its legal standing.

In a petition filed by the victims, the organisation is accused of flouting labour laws, with claims that individuals were engaged without formal contracts, statutory deductions or clear employment terms.

The petition also raises concerns over the alleged involvement of children, elderly persons, people living with disabilities and economically vulnerable households in programme activities that complainants say exposed them to exploitation.

Further, victims allege that the organisation collected personal data of minors and vulnerable adults, including names, identification details and school information, without clear safeguards on consent, storage or use.

The petitioners have called on authorities to investigate possible violations of labour, child protection and data protection laws.

In its public materials, however, the organisation presents a markedly different picture of its mission and operations.

The organisation says its initiatives are designed to empower individuals and communities towards dedication, hard work and personal growth.

Responding to the concerns, Stewards of Grace International Executive Director Patrick Amollo dismissed the allegations, insisting the claims are false.

“These allegations are not true and are being pushed by a few individuals within the organisation who he described as disgruntled,” said Amollo.

He admitted that the organisation has been unable to pay staff or fully roll out the programme due to a lack of funds, maintaining that operations stalled before key commitments could be met.

However, this position appears to conflict with information published by the organisation itself. Testimonies featured on the organisation’s website describe beneficiaries who say they received education support and other forms of assistance through the programme.

Amollo acknowledged the existence of the testimonies but said they were intended to attract potential donors, not to indicate that the programmes had been fully implemented or that funds had already been disbursed.

“The organisation was still in its resource-mobilisation phase, and the testimonies were promotional in nature,” he said.

The Executive Director, who spoke to The Standard on the phone, said he was out of the country and directed us to visit the organisation’s offices in Bondo town for further details about their operations.

“Our programmes are up and running, and we’re currently continuing to recruit pastors for the programme,” he confirmed, adding that the recruitment is part of ongoing efforts to expand its initiatives.

Victims, however, argue that the testimonies reinforced the belief that the programmes were active and funded, influencing their decision to commit money and time to the initiative.

Beyond financial loss, victims say the experience has taken an emotional toll, eroding trust within families and communities.

Some say they are reluctant to speak openly due to embarrassment, while others fear similar initiatives even when legitimate.