NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 14 – Kenyans have lost over Sh52 million to people who duped them that they were in a position to assist in recruitment to the Kenya Defence Forces since 2009 to 2014.
Vice Chief of Defence Forces Lieutenant General Joseph Kasaon says during the same period, the forces dismissed 54 servicemen as a measure to curb the menace while 108 civilians were handed over to the police for prosecution.
Statistics however show the corruption cases are declining. In 2009 for instance, Sh24 million was lost against Sh4mn between 2013 and 2014.
Speaking to journalists when he launched the forces month-long recruitment on Monday, Kasaon cautioned Kenyans against engaging in malpractices.
“Our sincere intention is to conduct a free, fair and a voluntary recruitment exercise,” he stated.
The recruitment exercise, he said, “comprises 16 recruitment teams covering the 47 counties which consist of 288 districts in the country.”
To ensure the exercise is free and fair, Kasaon said those who fail to meet the threshold will be notified of their shortcomings while the exercise will only be carried out during the day.
“Successful candidates will be notified and will be issued with calling letters immediately after the exercise,” he said.
Over 2,000 recruits are expected to join the forces across the country, in an exercise Kasaon says is open to scrutiny to ensure only the qualified candidates are enlisted.
“On corruption, it is the Ministry of Defence expectation that the recruitment exercise will be totally free from any form of corruption and nobody will be spared,” he pointed out. “This exercise is free with no monetary transactions required.”
The Ministry of Defence has also appealed to Kenyans to report cases of malpractices using mobile number 0721-487153.
The public can also report culprits to the nearest police station.
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