GLOBAL – A 64-year-old man in the United Kingdom has been charged with unlawfully wearing a senior naval officer's uniform at a Remembrance Sunday ceremony, an incident that has sparked public concern and drawn parallels to Kenya's own struggles with military and police impersonation.

Jonathan Carley, from Harlech, Gwynedd, was arrested on Friday, 14 November 2025, after he was allegedly seen wearing the uniform and medals of a high-ranking admiral during a wreath-laying service in Llandudno, Wales, on Sunday, 9 November 2025. North Wales Police confirmed that a naval uniform and various medals were discovered at his home. Carley has been charged under the Uniforms Act 1894, a law that prohibits the wearing of His Majesty's Forces' uniforms without permission. He is scheduled to appear at Caernarfon Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 11 December 2025, at approximately 10:00 AM EAT (7:00 AM GMT).

Chief Inspector Trystan Bevan of North Wales Police stated, “We understand that this incident has caused significant public concern, particularly given its occurrence on Remembrance Sunday.” Remembrance Sunday is a deeply significant day in the United Kingdom, observed on the second Sunday of November to honour the contributions and sacrifices of British and Commonwealth military personnel in the two World Wars and subsequent conflicts. The alleged impersonation on such a solemn occasion has been described by a Royal Navy spokesperson as “insulting to anyone connected to the service.”

Veterans and military observers at the Llandudno event reportedly became suspicious due to an unlikely combination of medals and irregularities in the uniform, which they deemed inconsistent with Royal Navy regulations. In the UK, such impersonators are often pejoratively nicknamed “Walts,” after the fictional character Walter Mitty, who daydreamed of heroic feats.

The Kenyan Context: Impersonation as a Tool for Fraud

While the case in Wales appears to be one of personal misrepresentation, it casts a spotlight on the more financially driven nature of military impersonation in Kenya. The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the National Police Service (NPS) have repeatedly warned the public about fraudsters who use fake uniforms and documents to perpetrate scams, most notably during recruitment periods.

In April 2021, military police at the Moi Barracks Recruit Training School in Eldoret arrested 55 young people who arrived with fraudulent KDF calling letters. Investigations revealed the victims had paid between KSh 270,000 and KSh 400,000 to a syndicate of conmen, including a pastor, for the fake documents. The Department of Defence confirmed in a 2020 report that Kenyans had lost over KSh 17.2 million in a single recruitment drive to such scams.

Kenyan authorities have pursued several cases against impersonators. In April 2025, Willington Kimtai Kipyego was detained for trespassing at Embakasi Garrison in Nairobi while allegedly impersonating an officer; he was also wanted on a separate warrant for possessing a fake firearm. In another incident from May 2021, a 17-year-old was arrested in Nakuru for impersonating a police officer and was found with an assortment of military and police gear, including uniforms, handcuffs, and berets. These cases underscore a critical difference: in Kenya, the act of impersonation is frequently a precursor to serious criminal activities like fraud and extortion, preying on the high value and respect placed on a career in the disciplined forces.

Legal Frameworks and Global Perspectives

The United Kingdom's Uniforms Act 1894 carries a penalty of a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month for wearing a uniform without authority, particularly if done in a manner likely to bring contempt upon it. For cases involving financial gain, offenders can be prosecuted under the more severe Fraud Act 2006, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.

This contrasts with legislation in the United States, known as the Stolen Valor Act. The current version, passed in 2013, makes it a federal crime to fraudulently claim receipt of top military decorations with the intent to obtain money, property, or other tangible benefits. An earlier 2005 version of the act, which criminalised merely lying about receiving medals without the requirement of tangible gain, was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012 as an unconstitutional infringement on free speech.

The incident in Llandudno serves as a reminder of the deep cultural significance attached to military service and honours. For Kenyans, it is a prompt to remain vigilant against criminals who exploit the integrity of the nation's security institutions for illicit profit. The KDF and NPS continue to advise the public that all recruitment is conducted officially and is free of charge, urging citizens to report any suspicious individuals or demands for payment to the nearest police station or military camp.