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Twenty-five military officers have been jailed or face investigations over massive corruption in cases related to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment.

Revelations about the cases came to light as KDF prepares to recruit new soldiers, an exercise that has in the past been marred by allegations of corruption and favoritism.

Among the 25 whose cases have either been concluded or are ongoing are five senior officers in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and Major. This is one of the top most ranks in the military chain of command.

A report detailing the status of completed or ongoing cases touching on individual officers who have been prosecuted since the last recruitment held in July last year shows that one Major (name withheld) in the 75 Air Defense Artillery Battalion is accused of obtaining money in 2021.

He is scheduled to appear before a KDF court martial for a defense hearing on September 29.
Another Major, identified only as J. Wasike, from the Defence Headquarters, Camp Administration Unit deployed in Langa’ta Garrison was sentenced to two years and ten months’ imprisonment.

During a hearing held on January 20, he was found guilty of the two counts of obtaining money.

House report

The sentence is for each count. Yet another Major, identified only as Kenyakisa, from Laikipia Airbase and who was deployed at Kahawa Garrison, was sentenced to one year imprisonment for each of the count he was accused of after a judgment was delivered on June 23.

He too was accused of obtaining money in relation to the recruitment of soldiers.
In one of landmark cases, Senior Private Isaac Mwangi Maina from the Defense Forces Memorial Hospital was on May 12 sentenced to 18 years — the highest such sentence — after he was found guilty of several counts of obtaining money.

He was also dismissed from KDF.

The details of the investigations are contained in a report tabled in the National Assembly by Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale last week, and which is now privileged because it is now the property of the House.

The report shows that 11 cases have so far been concluded with the officers being sentenced to imprisonment ranging from two to ten years. It also reveals that 14 other cases are still under investigations while three have been withdrawn.

Fraud agents

“I have attached Annex A, which provides the status of the completed and ongoing cases of individual officers, more so General Officers, who have been prosecuted since the last recruitment held in July 2022. That Annex indicates the ranks of those officers and the crime committed. All these officers faced court martial precisely because of recruitment malpractices,” said Duale.

The CS, who had appeared to respond to questions from Kacheliba MP Titus Lotee on the measures being take to avoid malpractices in the upcoming KDF recruitment scheduled for August 28, said that the Ministry of Defense was determined to protect Kenyans from fraudsters posing as KDF recruitment agents, and who are bent on marring the conduct of an open, free and fair recruitment.

According to Duale, recruitment officers countrywide have been directed to make verbal announcements of the selected candidates. In addition, officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and representatives of civil society organisations in the locality have been asked to be on standby to monitor the recruitment drive.

“We will give a number that parents can call and report any incidents of fraud going on,” Duale told MPs. “I ask this House to judge myself, General (Francis) Ogolla, and the entire leadership of KDF on this recruitment. I am sure there will be a difference this time around.

“The aforesaid notwithstanding, there are isolated instances where KDF personnel have been involved in recruitment malpractices. To serve as a deterrent, all suspected cases have been thoroughly investigated, and those found culpable are subjected to the judicial process in the form of court-martial, often leading to dismissal from service or imprisonment.”

One year sentence

In the report, the 12 concluded cases include one against Corporal Tylen Machangoh from the School of Ordinance, who was overseeing the drive at Kahawa Garrison. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison on July 21 last year after he was found guilty of obtaining money to influence the selection of a candidate.

Similarly, Corporal Inyangala from the Kenya Naval Training College, Mtongwe, but who was based at Lang’ata, was on November 18 last year sentenced to one-year imprisonment for obtaining money in two counts.

Also jailed were Senior Private R. Busena from Kenya Navy Base Manda based in Lang’ata and Constable Job Maiwa from Lukale Defence Forces Constabulary headquarters.

The two, who were deployed in Lang’ata Garrison, were sentenced for two and a half years each on the first charge and two years and 10 months each on the second charge after a hearing held on December 15 last year. Busena was accused of obtaining money while Maiwa was accused of influencing.

Captain Dr RT Ngowah from the Defence Forces Memorial Hospital who was deployed in Lang’ata Garrison was sentenced to one year and ten months for each of three counts on January 26. He had been found guilty of obtaining money.

Meanwhile, Corporal EN Nzioka from the Transport Battalion was sentenced to six years on May 12 this year and dismissed from the force, also for obtaining money.

Also indicted was Gunner Festus Olukohe of 75 Air Defense Artillery. He was dismissed from the service on May 23 for obtaining money while Senior Private BA Onchomba from the 7-Kenya Rifles who was deployed in Kahawa Garrison was sentenced to two years imprisonment on June 16 for furnishing false documents during his enlistment.

With regards to the 14 ongoing cases, the report shows that two Corporals from the Kenya Military Academy and Army Special Operations Brigade Field Workshop (names withheld) had escaped from custody and were still at large. The two were also accused of obtaining money to influence recruitment of candidates.

According to the report, three other cases were slated for mention on Monday and Thursday last week. It involves one soldier from the Joint Command and Staff College who was deployed in Kahawa Garrison; a Gunner from the 75 Air Defense Artillery and Sergeant from the Recruit Training School who was deployed in Kahawa Garrison.

The three cases that have been withdrawn include one against a retired and re-employed Non-Commissioned Officer, a Captain from Kenya Navy Dock Yard and a Lieutenant Colonel from the Defense Forces Memorial Hospital whose case was terminated on May.