Police probe impersonation case against reservist accused of coning man Sh440,000
During their meeting, he allegedly demanded Sh600,000 to facilitate the KDF recruitment.
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DCI detectives are probing an impersonation case against a National Police Reservist accused of defrauding two local youths of Sh440,000 with promises of military enlistment.
The officer, posing as a senior Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer with the rank of Captain based in Isiolo, is alleged to have, on February 11, 2018, assured Frankline Mwongera Munene of assistance in securing employment for his sister and a neighbor as KDF recruits.
During their meeting, he allegedly demanded Sh600,000 to facilitate the recruitment. He is said to have provided his M-Pesa and Equity Bank account details for the money transfer.
Introduced by a neighbor, Munene believed it to be a genuine deal and, after almost completing the payment, he realized he had been duped.
Between March 20, and April 4 of the same year, Munene allegedly sent Sh40,000 on various dates and later wired Sh400,000 to the accused's bank account.
Despite the payments, the officer assured Munene of successful recruitment, urging him to settle the remaining balance for recruits Penina Kathambi and Nkirote Mwenda to report to the Eldoret Recruits Training School.
But when Munene demanded KDF calling letters, the officer is said to have turned off his phone, according to an affidavit by Corporal Joseph Kibet, the investigating officer.
Nearly six years later, earlier this month, Munene spotted the officer donning a police reservist uniform in Isiolo and promptly reported the case for investigation.
Three weeks ago, detectives applied for court orders to access the accused's M-Pesa accounts and numbers used by Munene, which were granted.
The investigators seek assistance from the police liaison officer at Safaricom Public Limited Company to provide registration details of three M-Pesa accounts, their statements, and call data records from March 1, 2018, to April 10 of the same year.
Other cases
While cases of gullible youths being conned by rogue military officers during recruitment exercises are common, instances of individuals posing as KDF officers have also surfaced.
Edwin Kinyua recounts being among hundreds of Kenyan youths conned during the 2019 recruitment period, between November 27 and December 16, after a relative assured him of securing a direct entry into the military.
Linked to a colleague stationed at Defence Headquarters who promised facilitation for a fee, Kinyua paid a Sh300,000 bribe to a sergeant, as reported in 2020 before a court martial at 78 Tank Battalion.
Despite the payment, Kinyua did not receive a calling letter, prompting his father to report the incident.
The accused is also accused of defrauding Nelson Kabwere of Sh180,000 in Eastleigh, Nairobi, promising a KDF job.
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