Victims paid for military slots in Russia, report says

 Victims paid for Russian military slots, report reveals. [File Courtesy]

The Russian military recruitment saga has taken a new twist with revelations that Kenyans lured to war parted with the money demanded by the recruiters and lost it.

A probation report before Kahawa Magistrate Gideon Kiage shows the men paid between Sh165,000 and Sh300,000 to the recruiters, but the money vanished. Although they did not oppose having Festus Omwamba, the man claimed to be at the heart of the saga, released on bail, they claimed they were still paying debts as they borrowed money to pay the demanded amount.

The victims also named more people allegedly involved. They claimed they did not know the 32-year-old economist, but his proxies, who included one Amos Thiong’o and a Judy, who recruited them, allegedly obtained money from them. “They complained about the money they paid to their hostages, which varied from Sh165,000 to 315,000, and reported that the lost money had caused their family untold pain. Some stated that the money was borrowed and their families were still settling the debts,” the report seen by The Standard reads.

“The DCI-TOCU officers reported that they secured the names of the victims as per the Witness Protection Act to ensure none of them was harmed, this being a case of public interest. They did not share a record of any threat expressed by the victims in this matter.”

During the hearing yesterday, Prosecutor Anthony Musyoka said Omwamba should not be released on bail, since he was a flight risk and that the victims were still apprehensive about him arguing his case outside court. The number of victims in the case is 25.

At the heart of the case was a WhatsApp message Omwamba allegedly sent to the investigating officer, in a spirited argument by the State that he should not be released.

The message appeared to be a confession that he had broken the law and expressed willingness to surrender, provided his safety was guaranteed. “Hello, sir, I know you’re really looking for me. I know I have done wrong. Let me surrender myself to you. I don’t want to hide. Only guarantee my safety in your hands, sir. I have received several threats, and I do not want to side with the Russians,” the message, sent to Sergeant Salima, read.

Omwamba’s lawyers, Kubo Mwakichako and Bonventure Otieno, argued that the message should not be used in court because the investigator allegedly failed to caution him. They insisted that Omwamba’s surrender was intended to assist the police with investigations, with the hope that he would not be charged. Kubo insisted that Omwamba ought to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

Another prosecutor, Kennedy Amwayi and the victims’ lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru, told the court that the message demonstrated Omwamba’s awareness that his 40 days had ended, as he was already wanted under a warrant of arrest.