Three Kenya Navy servicemen have been sacked for attending a Cord rally at Tononoka in Mombasa two weeks ago.
The
navy servicemen were identified as Senior Sergeant John Apollo, force
number 33502; Corporal George Ong’onyi, force number 34094; and a
corporal only identified as Nyambok, force number 34906.
The
three were accused of involvement in politics, contrary to the code of
ethics governing the military and other disciplined forces in the
country.
Cord leaders Raila Odinga and Moses Wetangula
addressed the Tononoka rally, alongside senators, MPs, governors and
members of county assemblies.
Article 239 (3 a, b and
c) of the Constitution states that members of national security organs
shall not act in a partisan manner when performing their functions. It
says they should not further any political party’s interest or cause and
prejudice a legitimate political interest or political cause.
Sources
said the three were spotted by military intelligence officers who were
covering the rally. The MIOs and took the soldiers’ photographs.
Last
week, they were told that their services were no longer required and
ordered to vacate the Kenya Navy premises in two hours, said a source
who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The soldiers
Monday returned to the navy headquarters at Mtongwe in Mombasa for the
processing of their termination papers. They also moved their families
from the navy servicemen quarters, added another source.
Presence at rally
Kenya Defence
Forces spokesman Bogita Ongeri told the Nation by phone that the
soldiers were relieved of their duties by their commander soon after
getting evidence of their presence at the Cord rally.
Forces spokesman Bogita Ongeri told the Nation by phone that the
soldiers were relieved of their duties by their commander soon after
getting evidence of their presence at the Cord rally.
“They
violated administrative rules governing uniformed personnel in this
country. The code of ethics clearly says that no officer should incline
himself to any political party. Having violated that, their commander
was obliged to take action against them,” he added.
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