Navy men fired for attending Cord meeting

Three Kenya Navy servicemen have been sacked for attending a Cord rally at Tononoka in Mombasa two weeks ago.

The navy servicemen were identified as Senior Sergeant John Apollo, force number 33502; Corporal George Ong’onyi, force number 34094; and a corporal only identified as Nyambok, force number 34906.

The three were accused of involvement in politics, contrary to the code of ethics governing the military and other disciplined forces in the country.

Cord leaders Raila Odinga and Moses Wetangula addressed the Tononoka rally, alongside senators, MPs, governors and members of county assemblies.

Article 239 (3 a, b and c) of the Constitution states that members of national security organs shall not act in a partisan manner when performing their functions. It says they should not further any political party’s interest or cause and prejudice a legitimate political interest or political cause.

Sources said the three were spotted by military intelligence officers who were covering the rally. The MIOs and took the soldiers’ photographs.

Last week, they were told that their services were no longer required and ordered to vacate the Kenya Navy premises in two hours, said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The soldiers Monday returned to the navy headquarters at Mtongwe in Mombasa for the processing of their termination papers. They also moved their families from the navy servicemen quarters, added another source.

Presence at rally

Kenya Defence Forces spokesman Bogita Ongeri told the Nation by phone that the soldiers were relieved of their duties by their commander soon after getting evidence of their presence at the Cord rally.

“They violated administrative rules governing uniformed personnel in this country. The code of ethics clearly says that no officer should incline himself to any political party. Having violated that, their commander was obliged to take action against them,” he added.