The recruitment drive by the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) across the country has been marred by disappointment after dozens of hopeful Kenyans were disqualified from the exercise.
The exercise, which began on Monday, October 13, aimed to identify and enlist qualified, disciplined, and physically fit young Kenyans into the service.
Potential candidates underwent a series of assessment stages, including the verification of identification and academic documents, physical fitness evaluations, medical examinations, and structured interviews to determine their suitability for military service.
Hundreds of Kenyans Locked Out of KDF Recruitment Over Drug Abuse
Speaking during the Lamu recruitment exercise on Tuesday, October 21, Senior Medical Officer Lieutenant Colonel Wasike observed that some young applicants were eliminated due to various medical challenges.
Wasike noted that among the issues was drug abuse, which continues to undermine the potential of otherwise capable candidates, disqualifying them from opportunities for national service.
He emphasized the need for community-driven interventions, awareness campaigns, and mentorship programs to help address this concern and guide the youth toward healthier, more productive paths.
During a similar exercise in Garissa County on Tuesday, October 13, hundreds of youths were disqualified due to drug and substance abuse.
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Mandatory medical and laboratory tests revealed traces of illegal drugs in many applicants’ blood samples, leading to their automatic disqualification.
Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Maalim, who oversaw the recruitment, confirmed that the use of illegal substances was the main reason behind the rejections.
“The young men and women displayed great ambition and optimism in joining the KDF,” he told journalists.
“But medical examinations have shown a worrying increase in the use of illegal drugs and substances among the youth.”
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CS Tuya Pledges Zero Tolerance to Graft in 2025 KDF Recruitment Drive
This comes after Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, while launching the 2025 nationwide KDF recruitment exercise, pledged a zero-tolerance approach to corruption and affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent process.
Speaking at the Defense Headquarters in Nairobi, Tuya described the annual drive as a crucial national effort to replenish KDF ranks, expand emerging units, and strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.
She acknowledged that past recruitment exercises had occasionally attracted allegations of malpractice but noted that investigations had led to arrests and disciplinary action where wrongdoing was proven.
The CS clarified that most of the reported cases involved fraudsters masquerading as KDF officers, urging Kenyans to be cautious of such impostors.
“The recruitment exercise will strictly follow the Constitution, guaranteeing fairness, inclusivity, and representation from all 47 counties,” Tuya said.
KDF seeks to fill positions across various military departments, including General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets, Specialist Officers, General Duty Recruits, Tradesmen/women, and Defense Forces Constables.
The age limits varied across categories, with candidates for General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets—both Regular and Graduate—and General Duty Recruits expected to be between 18 and 26 years old.
Specialist Officers and Tradesmen/Women were not to be above 30 years, while Chaplains and Imams were to be under 39 years. For constables, retired KDF personnel were required to be between 30 and 55 years, and retired NYS members between 35 and 45 years.
All applicants were expected to have a clean criminal record.
In terms of physical requirements, male candidates needed a minimum height of 1.60 metres (5’3”) and a weight of at least 54.55 kilograms (120 lb), while female candidates had to be at least 1.52 metres (5’0”) tall and weigh no less than 50 kilograms (110 lb).
Additionally, all applicants were required to maintain a Body Mass Index (BMI) below 30.
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