Javan Ochieng, The Mastermind Who Turned Study Abroad Dreams Into a Sh156 Million Nightmare

For years, Javan Ochieng traversed schools across Kenya, captivating students and their families with promises of life-altering opportunities abroad.

His charismatic persona and persuasive oratory skills hailed overseas education and job prospects, inspiring thousands of young Kenyans to envision a brighter future. Ochieng’s organization, Kenya Networks Management, widely known as Kenema, earned a reputation for offering what appeared to be a clear path to top-tier institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. The allure of scholarships and guaranteed placements drew in not only students but also parents and educators, all eager to seize the chance for international education. However, Ochieng stands accused of orchestrating one of Kenya’s most extensive education scams, a scheme that allegedly defrauded over 3,000 victims of sums estimated between 54 million and 1.04 billion Kenyan shillings.

As the truth unfolded, victims found themselves grappling with the bitter aftermath of their misplaced trust. Families, many of whom had borrowed heavily to finance their children’s dreams, now faced mounting debts and crushed aspirations. The promised airport departures never materialized, leaving students like Mwangi, who lost over 436,000 shillings, and Wellington Kiplimo, who invested more than 305,000 shillings, stranded without visas, scholarships, or future prospects. Ochieng’s tactics were as diverse as they were deceptive. He leveraged churches and social media platforms to cast a wide net, presenting himself as a benevolent figure who understood the struggles of aspiring students.

This carefully crafted persona allowed him to exploit the trust of vulnerable individuals and communities, deepening the impact of his fraudulent activities. As suspicions grew and students began to question Kenema’s legitimacy, Ochieng reportedly retreated into the shadows, claiming to be abroad negotiating better opportunities. He frequently changed phone numbers, effectively severing communication lines with his victims. Reports even suggested that he was moving between countries, possibly taking refuge in Tanzania while evading justice. The aftermath of the scam exposed the inadequacies of the judicial system and law enforcement in addressing such elaborate fraud schemes.

Victims’ attempts to seek justice at the Buruburu Police Station were met with bureaucratic hurdles, and disturbing allegations emerged of police officers soliciting bribes to expedite investigations. James Ojwang invested Sh166,000 for his son Silas Odhiambo’s education after thorough due diligence by his daughter confirmed the institution’s apparent legitimacy. His son later enrolled at the University of Nairobi for veterinary studies, still carrying a Sh56,000 fee balance. Another victim Tina Were surrendered Sh258,000 of the requested Sh400,000 for promised study and work opportunities in Canada.

She completed IELTS testing but never received results, and was given fake travel documents including a Dubai visa and air ticket. Stacy Gathoni lost Sh197,000, combining family savings with borrowed money from her cousin, which she continues to repay. Like Were, she was promised an education opportunity in Canada but received nothing in return. Silas Odhiambo’s involvement began at St Francis High School, where students were charged Sh1,000 for Kenema membership cards and promised donor sponsorship. The institution closed in January 2022 amid complaints, merely changing its name and instructing students to stay away.