By Charles Lwanga
Police in Kilifi have recovered Ksh615,000 after arresting three people during the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment drive in Kilifi.
Kilifi Criminal Investigation boss Geoffrey Kathurima said the three, who include a man and two women, were arrested on suspicion of "attempting to bribe" KDF officers overseeing the recruitment exercise at Karisa Maitha Grounds.
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"The suspects - Kadenge Safari, 70, Zingo Karisa, 47, and Mercy Chizi Nyale, 49, - were spotted by KDF soldiers hanging around the area with envelopes stuffed with unknown contents," he told journalists at his office adding "the suspects were then frisked out and Safari was found with Ksh220,000 while Karisa and Nyale were found with Ksh195,000 and Ksh200,000 cash respectively."
Kathurima said the fact that the suspects were found in possession with large amount of money at the recruitment area where the recruits had assembled means they had come to bribe KDF officers.
"Police will not relent take action against people intending to bribe their way into the military," he said adding "the suspects will be taken to court once investigations are complete to face corruption related charges."
In August this year, three KDF officers were arraigned at a Court Martial in Kahawa Garrison and charged with various recruitment malpractices, offences said to have happen between 2013 and 2021.
Major Ben Kipkogei Chemjor of School of Infantry (SOI), Senior Private Douglas Kaburu Nyarondia of 77 Artillery Battalion and Senior Private Benard Ayiera Onchomba of 7 Kenya Rifles denied the charges before Principal Magistrate Diana Mochache.
The court was told that Major Chemjor obtained Sh200,000 on February 9, 2021 from Mohamed Shambaro with a promise that he would influence the recruitment of Abdulaziz Shambaro in Minjila, Tana River County where he was deployed as a recruiting officer.
On another count, Chemjor allegedly obtained Sh150,000 from Emmanuel Nguah Mwandege in Malindi, while in the third charge he is accused of asking for Sh170,000 as recruitment inducement from Celestine Achieng Odero in Malindi.
On the other hand, Senior Private Kaburu and Onchomba were also charged with various recruitment malpractices.
The three KDF officers have so far been indicted after investigations by the Military Police linked them to the vices.
