FORMER Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers facing court martial at Mtongwe Navy base in Mombasa for desertion of duties want to be charged as civilian instead of soldiers.
The 27 soldiers have accused their bosses of forcing them to put on Kenyan military combat gear yet they quit their military jobs several years ago.
The soldiers have also accused their former bosses of unlawfully detaining them at the Mtongwe Navy base beyond the stipulated time allowed by the constitution.
A number of the soldiers including both commissioned and non-commissioned officers have been detained for over 46 days with no official communication when they will be charged.
The commissioned officers have been allowed to walk within the navy base and sleep in the barracks but under the escort of armed military police.
But the ex-servicemen, who include engineers, have been detained at a holding cell with heavily armed soldiers seen patrolling the vicinity of the detention camp. Yesterday, only one of the soldiers was formally charged with desertion of duties according to sources among the detained soldiers.
“We are wondering why they are treating us like military men while we left KDF many years ago and through lawful means. If we are to be tried then let them charge us in a civilian court,” said a lieutenant who was among those arrested in February.
“They have even forced us to put on full combat attire, made us sign statements implicating us with desertion. They also forced our former titles on us,” said the ex-military man. Lawyer Ben Musundi who is representing one of the accused asked for the court to expedite any formal charges against the accused.
