A woman who identified herself only as Gladys has painfully recalled how she lost KSh 300,000 to a man posing as a high-ranking military officer.
Gladys said the encounter happened in April while she was traveling from Mombasa to Nairobi aboard the SGR train. She was seated next to the man, and a casual conversation quickly turned into a life-changing ordeal.
During the five-hour journey, the man confidently told her he was a senior officer in the Kenya Defence Forces. Gladys said she opened up about her dream of joining the military, a dream she had chased unsuccessfully since 2021.
The man told her that joining the army without connections or money was extremely difficult. Grace said she had never known that and explained that her efforts in 2021, 2022, and 2023 had all failed.
He then told her there would be another KDF recruitment drive in October this year. He assured her he could help her secure a slot and asked her whether she had KSh 300,000.
Gladys said she was shocked because she did not have such money. She told him she would try talking to her mother to see if they could raise the amount.
Although they lost contact for some time, the man called her again in June. He wanted to know whether she had raised the money, and Gladys said she assured him she would speak to her mother.
She later approached her mother, who works as a house help in Isiolo. Her mother initially said she did not have that kind of money but promised to try.
According to Gladys, her mother considered selling or using a piece of inherited land as collateral to secure a loan. The two continued communicating with the man as the October recruitment approached.
When the date drew near, the man called again to ask whether the money was ready. Gladys reached out to her mother, who confirmed she had managed to secure a loan of KSh 260,000.
Gladys, who worked in a wines and spirits shop, said she asked her boss for a salary advance of KSh 40,000 to complete the amount. Her mother sent the KSh 260,000, and her employer helped her with the remaining KSh 40,000.
With the full KSh 300,000 finally in her possession, Gladys called the man to inform him she was ready. She said she was desperate to join the army so she could support her struggling mother and six siblings.
Cases of Kenyans falling victim to fake KDF officers have become increasingly common. On Tuesday, November 18, DCI officers arrested a man posing as a KDF brigadier, recovering fake recruitment letters among the evidence.
By Newshub