House team told how girl lost military job

By Peter Opiyo

Claims of a Sh300,000-bribe were floated before the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations as the team began investigation into the controversial dismissal of Gladys Jepkechei Tarus from the military.

Jepkechei said she was unfairly dismissed from the Recruits Training School in Eldoret on the grounds she was ‘pregnant’ as Ken Wafula from the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy shocked the committee with the bribery claims.

Wafula told the team, under the chairmanship of Wajir West MP Adan Keynan, he was told by a driver attached to a local media outlet that on hearing that his daughter took the place of Jepkechei, he regretted why he paid the money.

"If I knew my daughter was going to replace someone from a poor background like this I would have not given Sh300,000," Wafula told the committee.

Monthly periods

Jepkechei discounted claims of interfering with a ‘pregnancy’ as was claimed by Defence Assistant minister David Musila last week.

"I started receiving my monthly periods while at the gate leaving the school, at this point I told the officers it was not possible to have the periods and be pregnant at the same time," she said.

She further carried out three tests at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Mediheal Hospital in Eldoret and Kenyatta National Hospital, all of which turned negative.

The Standard Group sponsored the test at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Asked by Keynan what she expected from the committee, Jepkechei said: "I would like you to help me go back to RTS because that has been my dream."

Keynan clarified she had agreed to give her evidence before the media because she ‘had nothing to hide’.

Ministry to testify

Wafula said they approached Dr Enock Kibunguchy for expert opinion on allegations of abortion.

They were told a pregnancy would still turn positive if the test is carried within one week after an abortion.

The committee has invited the Ministry of Defence to appear before it next Monday.