Duped by flowery fables about Non Government Organizations jobs

The other week, a friend who is a pastor received a text message from an unlisted number.

The text purported to originate from someone called William who claimed to be working with a non-governmental organisation.

It went on to state that the sender was in a position to help the pastor, with other recipients of the same text, to get lucrative job positions at a NGO that promised a monthly take home of Sh60,000 without one having to leave their current occupations.

All recipients of the said text were asked to forward it to their friends and bring at least one or two persons with them for a meeting at a hotel in Nakuru town.

That is how the pastor co-opted me into the plan though I was against the idea. The man of cloth insisted, saying that it could be a chance of a lifetime that we should not let pass us by.

The meeting was on a Thursday. The hired conference hall was full. Attendees’ names, particulars and contact numbers were carefully taken by a stunning lady sitting at the door. Entrance fee was Sh200.

William was a tall, smartly dressed smooth talker. He had his audience believing every word he said as they nodded their heads in agreement.

After a few minutes, during which I was well oriented with my surroundings and the topic under discussion, I realised it had nothing to do with job creation let alone working with any NGO.

Instead, the topic dwelt on self-empowerment, especially in maximising one’s time and talent for great efficiency as well as packaging and branding oneself.

The pastor seemed captivated by the speaker’s mannerisms and everyone was at the edge of their seats.

There were about 150 people in attendance which meant that William and his two assistants stood to rake in several thousand of shillings. I left the meeting midway wondering which organisation would hire hundreds of persons at a go.

Great potential

Surprisingly, that evening, William sent me a lengthy text. He thanked me for attending the meeting and praised the ‘great potential’ he saw in me, which he wanted to help me harness.

I called back demanding to know about the jobs. William denied ever promising such a thing and quickly disconnected the phone when I took him to the task.