Three arrested with Sh726,000 in fake military recruitment scam

Police officers led by Eldoret West OCPD Samuel Mutunga (second left) inspect Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment admission letters and mobile phones alleged to have been recovered from suspects in Eldoret yesterday. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

Police in Eldoret have arrested three people in connection with a fake military recruitment racket where unsuspecting people have been conned of thousands of shillings.

Police pounced on the three on Tuesday morning at a hotel in Eldoret town and recovered Sh726,000, three fake forces admission letters, three phones and an iPad. 

According to Eldoret West police boss Samuel Mutunga, one of the suspects claimed he was a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Major and was in a position to secure slots for them in the Kenya Army.

“He was referring to himself as Major Augustine and was working with others based in Nairobi. He was calling people and asking for money before presenting them with fake admission letters,” said Mr Mutunga.

Mutunga said his team had been hunting down the cartel following complaints from the public and youths desperate to be recruited into the military.

He called on the public to be on the lookout and report such imposters.

Accompanied him

Anthony Gitonga, a youth from Meru who was also arrested, claimed his brother had accompanied him to meet the man who had promised to ensure he would recruited into the forces, a job he had longed for.

“I was connected to the suspect by someone. He asked for Sh400,000 and my father had to sell miraa to raise the money. We were arrested by the police when we were with him, ready to receive the admission letter,” said a shaken Gitonga.

“Members of the public should not easily trust people and part with money solicited by cons. The recruitment process is clear and people should not be cheated and manipulated into falling into their traps,” said Mutunga.

This month, a first-year university student was among suspects arrested for attempting to bribe recruitment officials in Kakamega.

In April, two pastors and a village elder claimed they had been conned of millions of shillings by fake police officers who claimed they could help them join the National Police Service.