SERVICE MEMBER ARRAIGNED BEFORE COURT MARTIAL OVER RECRUITMENT MALPRACTICES

Corporal (Cpl) Gilbert Kipya Biwott of Kenya Military Academy was earlier this week, arraigned before a Court Martial at Moi Air Base (MAB) to answer various charges of recruitment malpractices where he was accused of fraud and obtaining money by false pretence during the 2021 Kenya Defence Forces nationwide recruitment exercise.

Cpl Biwott, appearing before Principal Magistrate Hon. Gilbert Shikwe of Nairobi Milimani Law Courts, was charged with conduct to prejudice of good order and service discipline contrary to section 121 of the Kenya Defence Forces, Act 2012.

In that the accused, on diverse dates in the month of January 2021 within Eldoret town in the pretext that he was in a position to recruit Mr. Elphas Kipkorir Chebii into the Kenya Defence Forces, solicited and received kenya shillings three hundred thousand ( Kshs.300,000) in two tranches from Mrs. Emily Jebet Chebon and Ms. Gladys Cherono at the request of Mrs. Emily Jebet Chebon.

In another count, the accused was charged with conduct to the prejudice of good order and service discipline contrary to section 121 of the Kenya Defence Forces, Act 2012 in that he, on diverse dates between January 2021 and April 2021, in the pretext of the position to recruit Ms. Sheila Jebiwott into the Kenya Defence Forces, solicited and received Kenya Shillings three hundred and thirty one thousand and five hundred (Kshs. 331,500) in two tranches from Mrs. Emily Jebet Chebon and Mrs. Gladys Cherono at the request of Mrs. Emily Jebet Chebon.

The accused denied the charges and hearing of the case was scheduled at a later date.
Military prosecutor Colonel Julius Ngatia said the investigations by the Military Police had established that the accused committed the crimes and he was ready to lead the prosecution team in proving beyond any reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offences and that he is guilty.

Integrity remains a critical pillar in the character of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). KDF recruitment process is free and fair to all eligible candidates.