71 fake KDF recruits handed six-month jail sentences

By , K24 Digital
On Mon, 3 Feb, 2020 17:52 | < 1 min read
Fake KDF recruits
Some of youth who convicted for presenting fake KDF admission letters to the Recruits Training School, Eldoret. PHOTO | TIMOTHY SIMWA | K24 TV
Some of youth who convicted for presenting fake KDF admission letters to the Recruits Training School, Eldoret. PHOTO | TIMOTHY SIMWA | K24 TV

Barely a week after their desire to serve in the Kenya Defence Forces landed them in court, 71 of the 99 youth who were arrested with fake letters of admission to the Recruits Training School (RTS), Eldoret pleaded guilty to charges of forgery.

The young men and women pleaded guilty to the charges before Eldoret Principal Magistrate Naomi Wairimu who then handed them a six-month jail sentence with an alternative Sh20,000 fine each.

The prosecution told the court that the accused were arrested at the RTS on January 26, 2020, when they reported with fake admission letters.

However, 28 others denied the charges and were each released on KSh30,000 cash bail or KSh100,000 bond.

Meanwhile, a civil society group from Eldoret has written to the Ministry of Defence to investigate rampant cases of fake KDF admission letters.

The group wants the ministry to investigate where there are rogue military officials behind the syndicate involved in duping innocent youth into buying fake letters.  

The hearing of the case against those who denied the charges has been slated for February 24, 2020.