Twenty-five military officers have been jailed or face investigations over massive corruption in cases related to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment.

Revelations about the cases came to light as KDF prepares to recruit new soldiers, an exercise that has in the past been marred by allegations of corruption and favoritism.

Among the 25 whose cases have either been concluded or are ongoing are five senior officers in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and Major. This is one of the top most ranks in the military chain of command.

A report detailing the status of completed or ongoing cases touching on individual officers who have been prosecuted since the last recruitment held in July last year shows that one Major (name withheld) in the 75 Air Defense Artillery Battalion is accused of obtaining money in 2021.

He is scheduled to appear before a KDF court martial for a defense hearing on September 29.

Another Major, identified only as J. Wasike, from the Defence Headquarters, Camp Administration Unit deployed in Langa’ta Garrison was sentenced to two years and ten months’ imprisonment.

During a hearing held on January 20, he was found guilty of the two counts of obtaining money.

The sentence is for each count. Yet another Major, identified only as Kenyakisa, from Laikipia Airbase and who was deployed at Kahawa Garrison, was sentenced to one year imprisonment for each of the count he was accused of after a judgment was delivered on June 23.

He too was accused of obtaining money in relation to the recruitment of soldiers.

In one of landmark cases, Senior Private Isaac Mwangi Maina from the Defense Forces Memorial Hospital was on May 12 sentenced to 18 years — the highest such sentence — after he was found guilty of several counts of obtaining money. He was also dismissed from KDF.

The details of the investigations are contained in a report tabled in the National Assembly by Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale last week, and which is now privileged because it is now the property of the House.

The report shows that 11 cases have so far been concluded with the officers being sentenced to imprisonment ranging from two to ten years. It also reveals that 14 other cases are still under investigations while three have been withdrawn.