Police in Mbita have arrested two people masquerading as KDF officers and soliciting money to recruit youths for the jobs in the military.
Gabriel Omwono and Peres Otieno were arrested by detectives in Mbita subcounty after police got a tip off from members of the public that some people were collecting funds to get youths a job at KDF.
It is reported that the suspects began conning people from last week immediately the Ministry of Defence advertised recruitment set to start this month.
The suspects are operating in Homa Bay and Migori counties.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Mbita subcounty deputy police commander Alfred Ng’eno said they intercepted the two suspects on Saturday evening on their way to Mbita from Homa Bay town for the same mission.
“They had left Homa Bay town to meet a client in Mbita when we arrested them,” Ngeno said.
He said the suspects were masquerading as KDF officers.
The police officer said the suspects are taking advantage of the vulnerability of youths due to unemployment to con them money.
They are detained at Mbita police station for interrogation before being arraigned in court.
“We’re asking residents who have fallen prey to the suspects to report immediately. The government doesn’t take money for recruitment,” he added.
It was also reported that the suspects were bragging that they have connections and influence in the KDF recruitment exercise.
Ng'eno said they arrested the suspects after three members of the public raised complaints.
“The members of the public complained that there are people taking advantage of the KDF jobs to swindle funds from them.”
They were demanding more than Sh100,000 per person.
-Edited by SKanyara
