Editor's Review

  • In separate letters to the two lawmakers allied to Deputy President William Ruto, EACC noted that none of them had attained titles they’ve been using in their official transactions.

The Ethics and Anticorruption Commission (EACC) has written cease-and-desist letters to MPs; John Waluke (Sirisia) and Didmus Barasa (Kimilili) over what it terms as illegal use of unattained military titles.

In separate letters to the two lawmakers allied to Deputy President William Ruto, EACC noted that none of them had attained titles they’ve been using in their official transactions.

According to EACC, Waluke has been using the title of Major (rtd) while Barasa has been using Captain (rtd), yet they left the army before acquiring the said ranks.

The commission has warned the two legislators that continued use of the fake titles could lead to their arrest and prosecution for crime of impersonation.

“The commission received information that you have been using the title of Major (rtd) in your official transactions and otherwise, yet you have never acquired and/or attained such a title while serving (in the KDF),” EACC’s letter to Waluke read in part as quoted by Nation.


Collage photo of MPs; John Waluke and Didmus Barasa. [Photo: Courtesy]

“It is, therefore, evident that you have never acquired the rank of Captain (rtd) and any such representation to the public and in official documents such as those filed at the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly amounts to a breach of the integrity and ethical requirements laid out under Chapter Six of the Constitution and the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012,” EACC’s letter to Barasa was quoted by the local daily.

According to EACC, while leaving the service, Waluke had attained the title of ‘Senior Private’ which is the second-lowest rank in the military. On his part, Barasa had attained the rank of a ‘Private’ which is the lowest in Kenya’s military.