A man has been arraigned in Makadara Law Court for defrauding a family of Ksh 800,000 under false pretences.
During the sentencing on Tuesday, prosecutors stated that between December 1 and 2, 2025, the accused convinced a parent that paying the money would secure their child a job in the National Police Service.
The court also heard that the suspect had no ties to the Police service, and was masquerading as a recruiter to solicit money from the family.
Predictably, the suspect denied all charges and was released on a bond of Ksh1 million with one surety of the same value, or an alternative cash bail of Ksh400,000.
The court granted a bond of Ksh 1 million bond with one surety of equal value, or an alternative cash bail of Sh400,000. The case was set for mention on January 16, 2026, with a full hearing scheduled for May 28, 2026.
One notable controversy that emerged during the hearing was the whereabouts of a Samsung M30 mobile phone and Ksh350,000 in cash, which was allegedly seized by the prosecution as exhibits.
The suspect's legal team contends that the prosecution has withheld items irrelevant to the investigation, a claim the prosecution has dismissed
The case came amid widespread reports of bribery and scams in police recruitment in Kenya. An Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) audit released in late 2025 showed that recruitment sometimes involved cartels, where rogue officers and politicians colluded to sell police slots.
Bribes for securing jobs ranged from Ksh300,000 to over Ksh700,000, and some schemes involved selling fake calling letters.
Under the Bribery Act No. 47 of 2016, legal ramifications for engaging in recruitment malpractice can attract a fine of up to Ksh5 million, imprisonment for up to ten years, or both.
In November 2025, four suspects were arrested in Nairobi for selling fake NPS calling letters to youths who each paid between Sh600,000 and Sh700,000.
That same month, another person was arrested in Kilimani for posing as a Kenya Defence Forces officer and conducting a fake recruitment exercise.
In October 2025, the High Court suspended a planned recruitment of 10,000 officers following legal challenges and claims of unconstitutional procedures.
Despite the controversies, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja have maintained that the November and December recruitments remained free and fair.
