Sirisia MP John Waluke and his Kimilili counterpart Didmus Barasa are facing a possible arrest and prosecution for allegedly masquerading as former senior officers at the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has written to the National Assembly, warning the lawmakers against misuse and misinterpreting of military titles.
Waluke has been referring to himself as a Major (rt) while Didmus refers to himself as a Captain.
The MPs who are Deputy President William Ruto’s foot solidiers in Western Kenya have now been warned that the continued use of the titles is criminal under the Penal Code and Leadership and Integrity Act.
Sirisia MP John Waluke. PHOTO/COURTESY
EACC boss Twalib Mbarak says that his office had written to Parliament and the military after noting that the two lawmakers left the military as private soldiers and not as holders of the titles they purported to have held at the time of their discharge from service.
Mbarak noted that this is one of the unfortunate cases of senior State officials impersonating as former senior military officers yet they never attained the titles.
Barasa who is facing other charges relating to fraud and assault told Parliament that he served at Kenya Armed Forces as a Captain attached to the technical wing in the years 2001 and 2007.
An investigation done by EACC has however, revealed that Barasa only served for one year before he was fired for absenteeism and forgery.
According to sources, Barasa was successfully recruited to the military in October 2007 and completed his training in May 2008.
He then proceeded to the Kenya Defense Technical College in Nakuru. It was after he absconded duty for many days without permission, an offense under the military laws, that he was arrested in 2009 and subsequently fired.
The letter sent to the MP with a copy to National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Clerk Michael Sialai and Chief of Defense Forces General Robert Kibochi warned Barasa against giving false information and misleading the public.
On the Parliament’s official website, he is identified as a former Kenya Air Force Captain who served in the military for six years.
Waluke on the other hand joined the military on April 1980, and was deployed to the 76 Armored Reece Battalion in Gilgil where he worked as a tank loader and later a driver at the headquarters in Nairobi.
The MP served for 14 years and attained the rank of Senior Private (SPTE) but left in May 1994 “Upon approval of your request to be discharged on compassionate grounds.”
