Fresh corruption claims in armed forces recruitment

Fresh claims of corruption in the recently concluded military recruitment emerged on Wednesday after a group of discharged soldiers came out demanding justice over what they termed as “unprocedural dismissal from the recruits training school”.

Five discharged soldiers representing a group of 14, some of whom had served for more than 10 years, said they were recruited to join the armed forces Constabulary last year and were put on the payroll.

However, they were later summoned by a senior military officer who “verbally” dismissed them as they were going about their duties.

Senior Sergeant Alpheus Ochieng Kajwang’, Senior Gunner Dominic Njura Njoroge, Sergeant Julius Kaka Musyoka, Private Jerusha Wanjiku Kimani, Senior Private Jackson Mwendwa Murongia and Senior Private Nephat Njue Njuki said they were dismissed shortly before their pass out.

They said they were forcibly discharged from the army without terminating the contracts they had signed.

“It was about two weeks to our pass out when a senior officer summoned us and told us that our services were no longer required. He said he was working on orders from above and there was no room for questions,” said Sergeant Musyoka.

He said they were dismissed the same day they received letters from the Department of Defence, stating that they were members of the army and their identification cards were being processed.

He said each of them was handed a Green Book — the small certificate of service given to every soldier leaving the military — stating “service no longer required”.

This happened even after the senior officers had given each of them several awards including Long Service and Good Conduct Award and 20 Great Years of Nyayo Era. The awards are clearly displayed in their Green Books.

Kenya for Justice and Development director Okiya Omtatah said the recruits were forcibly removed from the Kahawa Barracks by an armed detail of the Military Police.

“The officer also issued them gag orders that should they ever talk, they would earn the wrath of the military,” he said through a statement.

He said some of the 14 discharged soldiers were successfully recruited again this year but were unceremoniously thrown out a second time.

Mr Omtatah urged Parliament to investigate the matter.