Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives have arrested two civilians in Magarini Sub-County, Malindi County, for allegedly soliciting and receiving a Ksh250,000 bribe in the ongoing Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment.
The two, Salim Mohamed Shekue and Fredrick Hamisi Baya, are accused of duping their victims to part with the amount promising KDF slots without having to go through the normal recruitment procedures.
Confirming the arrest, EACC Head of Corporate Affairs and Communication Eric Ngumbi said that the suspects have been processed at EACC Offices in Malindi and will be escorted to Malindi police station where they will spend the night.
The suspects allegedly told the complainant that they had “very deep connections” in KDF and duped him into giving them the demanded bribe.
“According to the complainant (name withheld), he took a bank loan of Ksh250,000 and gave the two suspects an initial amount of Ksh200,000,” Ngumbi said.
“The two were arrested while receiving the balance of Ksh50,000 from the complainant. They demanded the balance claiming that only after full payment they would process the purported admission letter.”
EACC revealed that on July 30, 2023, Shekue who claimed to be deeply connected to KDF solicited the amount through his agent, Baya.
On August 28, 2023, the suspects contacted the complainant and demanded the balance of Ksh50,000 to facilitate recruitment in the ongoing exercise failure to which his purported chance to join KDF would be lost.
It was then that the complainant reported the matter to the EACC Malindi office.
“EACC cautions members of the public against succumbing to such bribe demands. Suspected cases of bribe demands may be reported through toll-free number 1551,” Ngumbi said.
