A man masquerading as a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officer and fleecing unsuspecting jobseekers of KSh1.1 million in fake recruitment fees has been arrested in Nambale, Busia County.
Acting on credible intelligence, detectives from Nambale descended on Cereda Guesthouse, Shibale Trading Centre, where they found the suspect, Brian Shem Maboni Achieng, holed up in a room with a 22-year-old woman who had been brought there by her mother in pursuit of a KDF recruitment slot.
She was not alone in the recruitment deception. Another young woman had similarly been brought to the premises by a parent, both families hoping to secure their daughters’ enlistment into the military.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect had been posing as a KDF officer with the purported ability to secure recruitment slots, pocketing Sh1,100,000 in cash from the victims’ parents on diverse dates between September and November 2026.
But what detectives uncovered inside the room painted an even more disturbing picture. A search revealed that the suspect had already drawn blood and urine samples from one of the women under the guise of conducting a KDF medical examination.
Among the items recovered were two syringes, one containing a blood sample and another containing clear fluid, a black dual-head stethoscope, an Omron blood pressure machine, surgical spirit and cotton wool.
Detectives also seized a laptop, computer mouse and other electronic accessories, alongside white T-shirts bearing the inscriptions CODE 87243 and CODE 624513.
Further recoveries included Kenyan and Ugandan national identity cards, a Ugandan driving permit and a VISA card, all bearing the suspect’s photograph, alongside two mobile phones.
The suspect is in custody undergoing processing ahead of arraignment, as the recovered items remain detained as exhibits to support ongoing investigations.
Meanwhile, the DCI cautioned members of the public against falling prey to individuals masquerading as recruitment agents for the disciplined services and demanding money in exchange for enlistment.
“KDF recruitment is conducted through officially announced and transparent procedures, not backdoor deals or cash inducements,” read part of the DCI statement.
Additionally, members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and report recruitment fraud to the nearest police station.
