Winnie Adipo Discloses She Joined US Military After Kenyan Recruiter Asked For KSh 200k Bribe

• Sergeant Winnie Wanjiru Adipo's persistent efforts to join the Kenya Defense Forces were dashed after attempting four times unsuccessfully
• On her fourth attempt, things took a disheartening turn when one of the recruiters demanded a bribe of KSh 200,000
• However, Adipo's determination to serve did not wane as she applied for a Green Card and took a leap of faith by relocating to the United States
• Her perseverance and dedication paid off, as she was able to secure a position as a Staff Sergeant at a US Air Force pilot training base

Sergeant Winnie Wanjiru Adipo is like the proverbial rock that became the cornerstone after being rejected by the builder.

This is due to the fact that she tried to join the Kenyan military four times to pursue her childhood dream and passion, but all attempts were rejected.

In an earlier interview with TUKO.co.ke, Adipo revealed that her passion for the military started when she was still a young girl.

Awed by military since childhood

This was influenced by her dad who would take them to the show ground to watch the disciplined forces perform.

Adipo was captivated by the sight of soldiers donning immaculate uniforms, moving in flawless harmony to the resounding melodies of the marching band.

From then on, she starting plotting her journey to the disciplined forces, with the huddle being to gain acceptance during the recruitment exercises.

It, however, dawned on her that gaining entry into the Kenyan military needed more than just passion and love for service, as every recruitment she tried came back negative.

Recruiter asked for KSh 200k

Adipo figured after three failed attempts that, maybe, her education credentials were the reason she wasn't getting picked, so she joined the University of Nairobi to sharpen her intellect.

Armed with a bachelor’s degree, she came back for her fourth attempt and presented her documents to the recruiter.

According to the Luke Airforce, the answer she received became the reason she decided that was her final attempt, and that she would look elsewhere.

“He told me, ‘Give me KSh 200,000 and I’ll fix you in,’” Adipo recalled, adding that it was the sort money she could not raise, which meant her dream had wafted into thin air.

Relocated to US on Green-card

It was at that point that she applied for the diversity lottery visa, commonly known as the Green-card, and relocated to the US in 2015.

A year after moving abroad, her hopes got a new lease of life when she applied and was accepted into the US military.

"Being African and a woman in the military took a lot to push my way up, but things are easier these days courtesy of programs like diversity inclusion and leadership which offer more opportunities to explore," she said.

Having worked in the military for over seven years, Adipo has scaled upwards through the ranks and currently holds the position of Staff Sergeant at the pilot training base.

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Winnie Adipo Discloses She Joined US Military After Kenyan Recruiter Asked for KSh 200k Bribe

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