KDF soldier tells court how he received Sh2.4million bribe from six job seekers

A Kenya Defence Force (KDF) soldier has admitted that he received Sh2.4million from six job seekers to facilitate their employment at Kenya Prisons Department April 2022. While appearing before Magistrate Gilbert Shikwe at Milimani Courts in Nairobi, Mr Antony Barongo Buge, a serviceman based at Lanet Barracks, told the court how he received the cash which he alleged he passed to a conduct person whom he named as Nelson Mukara Sichere. Barongo, who was testifying in a case where the said Mr Sichere has been charged with forging a recruitment letter and issuing it to a certain Ashley Ayuma, said he released all the money received from the job seekers to the accused. He told the court that the money in question changed hands in two Nairobi hotels on April 2022. He claimed he gave Sichere the money in the presence of Ashley. Also read: Moses Kuria: Price of unga will fall lower than votes Raila got in Karua’s backyard “I received the money then passed it on to Sichere in the presence of Ashley Ayuma, who was then handed a National Police Service (NPS) recruitment letter for one Naibei Sharon Chemtai,” Barongo told the court. Testifying against Sichere who is facing charges of forgery and issuing a fake NPS recruitment letter, Barongo said the deal backfired when it was discovered that the document had been forged. [caption id="attachment_213592" align="aligncenter" width="1320"] Nelson Sichere when he appeared before the Milimani Courts in Nairobi on November 28, 2022. PHOTO | RICHARD MUNGUTI[/caption] Although he admitted Sichere had not appended his signature in the recruitment letter, it was confirmed by a contact of Ashley's at the police training college in Kiganjo to be a forgery. The KDF serviceman said when Ashley received the letter from Sichere she liaised with her contact at Kiganjo who confirmed the six had not been recruited. “I reported the incident to the police leading to the arrest of the accused,” Barongo testified. Also read: Kenya hit by major condoms shortage ahead of festive season However, defence lawyer Danstan Omari, accused him of being a member of a cartel within the KDF that has been defrauding unsuspecting members of the public of millions of shilling in the pretext of securing jobs for them in the disciplined forces. “I put it to you that you are a member of a criminal gang in the KDF that has been defrauding jobseekers and their relatives millions of shillings under the guise you will secure them employment,” Mr Omari asked Barongo. The 42-year-old KDF serviceman told the court that he had been arrested and charged with defrauding job seekers. The prosecution said it will present before the court the guardians of the jobseekers who gave out the money to secure employment for their kin. Hearing of the case will resume on February 28, 2023. Also read: Here is why you’ll have to wait longer for that new passport rmunguti@ke.nationmedia.com