DCI detectives in Nairobi on Tuesday arrested a man accused of masquerading as a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) brigadier while running an elaborate recruitment scam targeting desperate job seekers.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said the suspect, Joshua Mutui Muimi, had upgraded himself from civilian to ‘KDF brigadier’ without ever seeing a parade square, using a fabricated military identity to extort money from unsuspecting Kenyans.
Muimi was arrested by Parklands detectives after what the DCI described as an intelligence-led operation that led officers to his rented apartment in Kilimani.
Investigators said the impostor had been parading himself as a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) brigadier, preying on the hopes of innocent citizens and extorting money in the guise of recruitment.
According to detectives, the suspect had created a complex scheme built around promises of enlistment into the Kenya Defence Forces.
He allegedly issued fake letters of admission to the Recruit Training School (RTS) in Eldoret, convincing young people that he could secure them placement in exchange for payment.
The DCI said Muimi had been on a money-minting spree, conning hopeful youths with fake recruitment letters.
When detectives stormed his Kilimani apartment, they found him fully dressed in Kenya Air Force regalia.
Officers said the uniform, badges and appearance had allowed him to present himself convincingly as a senior officer to his victims. But a “meticulous search inside the house peeled back the truth,” revealing a trove of falsified military documents and other incriminating materials.
Among the items recovered were multiple forged Ministry of Defence papers, including six fake admission letters bearing the same serial number, an indication of mass duplication for multiple victims.
Detectives also recovered seven fingerprint forms and a Yilmaz Defence Industry ammunition manufacturing manual, materials that investigators believe the suspect used to bolster the illusion of authenticity.
The DCI noted that the presence of official-looking documents and a military manual pointed to a methodical fraud operation aimed at persuading victims that the suspect had direct access to internal KDF processes.
Officers described the evidence as consistent with a money-minting spree built on exploiting young people’s aspirations to join the military.
The suspect has been taken into custody and is “undergoing processing pending arraignment,” the DCI said.
Charges are expected to relate to impersonation, forgery, and fraud, although detectives indicated that investigations are still ongoing to assess the full scope of his activities, including identifying potential accomplices and victims.
In its public statement, the DCI issued a strong warning to the public against using shortcuts in the security sector recruitment process.
It stressed that legitimate enlistment into the Kenya Defence Forces is both “free, fair and transparent,” and urged Kenyans to avoid individuals who claim to guarantee recruitment in exchange for money.
The agency cautioned, “The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is urging the public to remain vigilant and shun shortcuts in the security sector recruitment process.”
It reminded Kenyans that genuine recruitment is never conducted through private intermediaries and that official announcements are issued publicly through verified government channels.
The DCI further encouraged the public to report suspicious individuals or attempts to solicit money for recruitment. “Report any suspicious approaches to the nearest police station or through #FichuaKwaDCI. Call 0800 722 203 (Toll-free) or WhatsApp at 0709 570 000 to report anonymously. Usiogope!” the agency said.
