Panic has gripped supporters of two MPs from Bungoma county who face charges of impersonating of Kenya Defence Forces officers. By last week, investigation files were being fine-tuned to be forwarded to the office of Director of Public Prosecutions. Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission accuses Sirisia MP John Waluke and his Kimilili counterpart Didmus Barasa of masquerading as former senior officers at the KDF. EACC wrote to parliament warning Waluke and Barasa against “misuse and misinterpreting of military titles” through the continued use of the titles of Major (rtd) and Captain respectively.
In the letter seen by Weekly Citizen, EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak warns them that the continued use of the titles is criminal under the penal code and leadership and integrity Act. The letter is copied to national assembly speaker Justin Muturi, clerk Michael Sialai as well as Chief of Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi. In two letters dated September 23, Mbarak told Muturi that EACC had received information that Barasa and Waluke have been using the title of Captain (rtd) and Major (rtd) in their official engagements “and otherwise you have never acquired and or attained such title while serving at KDF, which is reported to have triggered an investigation whose results turned out positive”.
Barasa faces a number of criminal charges among them fraud and assault. He claims to have worked for the KAF captain stations at technical wing between 2001 and 2007. An EACC file to prosecute Barasa reveals, he served for one year and 76 days before he was sacked from military on matters relating to absenteeism and forgery. He forged documents to access a credit facility. The money involved in the forgery being Sh200,000. Barasa, investigations reveal, was recruited to the Kenya Air Force in Kimilili in October 2007, graduated in May 2008 and then went to the Kenya Defence Technical College at the Laikipia Airbase in Nanyuki.
It has been established, Barasa absconded duty for many days without permission, which constitutes an offence under the military laws, leading to his arrest around January 2009. He was sacked from the Force on February 23 2009 then at the rank of Private not captain as he claims. Suprisingly, in his public and underworld dealings, the MP according to written communications and recorded conversations on phone, introduces himself as a retired KAF Captain.
Part of EACC letter reads, “That you served in the Kenya Defence Forces for a period of one year and 76 between October 28 2007 to February 26 2009. That upon separation of service, you had only attained the rank of Private. That you left the military upon dismissal on disciplinary grounds”. The letter is addressed to Barasa and copied to Muturi, Sialai and Kibochi. The letter adds, “The commission hereby warns you against giving false information and misleading the public. You are advised to forthwith cease and desist representing yourself using the KDF military rank of Captain (rtd).
Please note that this violation has been entered into the commission’s database.” Investigators have further established, Waluke joined the military on April 15 1980 and was deployed to the 76 Armoured Recce Battalion in Gilgil. According to records with KDF, he was a tank loader then a driver at the military headquarters in Nairobi. Waluke after serving for 14 years rose to the rank of Senior Private (SPTE) leaving on May 21 1994. His file at DOD states, “upon approval of your request to be discharged on compassionate grounds”. He was never a major.
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