KDF Captain Court-Martialed over Sh300,000 Recruitment Bribes

A Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) captain was on Wednesday arraigned in a court-martial at Lang’ata Barracks over recruitment malpractices.

Appearing before Senior Principal Magistrate Boaz Ombewa, Captain Robert Kipkorir Mutai was charged with receiving bribes during the countrywide KDF recruitment exercise in February this year.

The military officer was charged with obtaining money under false pretenses in violation of Section 313 of the Penal Code and conduct prejudicing good order and service discipline in violation of Section 121 of the KDF Act 2012.

The charge sheet reads that Captain Mutai obtained Sh90,000 from one Mahamed Shambaro on February 9th, 2021, with the promise of influencing the recruitment of Abdulaziz Barisa Shambaro at Garsen recruiting center, Tana River County. At the time Mutai was deployed as an administrative officer at the recruitment centre.

In the second count, he is alleged to have obtained Sh210,000 from Sgt. Mwanaisha Abdalla in Marafa, Kilifi County, under the guise of assisting Suleiman Hare Kaginya's recruitment into the military.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and his case was adjourned until January 25th, 2022.