The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has been pressured to stop the mass recruitment of rangers with immediate effect days before the exercise begins.
While appearing before a parliamentary committee on Thursday, April 11, the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee of Wildlife and Tourism was cornered after the revelation that the recruitment was being done at the county level instead of the sub-county level.
Members of Parliament argued that the move was unfair as it would see some of the potential recruits incur travel costs and ultimately lock out other candidates.
Tiaty MP William Kamket while speaking on the floor requested for a statement on the recruitment process of Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) Rangers set to begin on Monday, April 15, 2024, to Friday, April 19, 2024.
“Honorable Speaker, I request for a Statement from the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Tourism and Wildlife on why the KWS was conducting recruitment at the county level as opposed to sub-county level which will help to alleviate travel costs for the potential recruits.”
“I also request for a statement on whether it is possible to relocate the recruitment venues to the sub-county level?” asked Kamket.
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Other MPs Voice their Opinion on KWS Recruitment
At the same time, the Leader of the Minority Opiyo Wandayi insisted that the exercise be stopped with immediate effect until a possible solution is found over the matter.
“As a house, we do not want to be seen as we are micromanaging the executive. However, this matter requires some unique intervention.”
“This matter should be suspended with immediate effect so that the recruitment can meet the expectation of Kenyans. If left as is, young Kenyans will be forced to travel abnormal distances just to receive an equal opportunity,” he said.
Additionally, the leader of the Majority Party Kimani Ichung’wah reiterated the same sentiments stating that the exercise ought to be conducted in a way that will guarantee equity across the country.
“Punishing unemployed young Kenyans by forcing them to travel long distances just to seek employment is not something that we should be doing as a country,” he said.
Further, he asked that recruitment be done at the constituency level to allow MPs to perform their oversight function on the entire recruitment process.
“This exercise should be held at the constituency level and not at the county level so that we can ensure that there is fairness in the exercise.”
“We do not want to see cases of non-residents masquerading as local youth and taking up opportunities set aside for youth in the assigned recruitment areas,” added Ichung’wah.
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Announcement of the Mass Recruitment
In a notice on March 19, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) announced the recruitment of 1,500 young and dynamic individuals as Cadets, Assistant Warden 150, and Rangers 1,350.
In addition, the notice asked interested candidates who would be able to endure the conditions for training and deployment to various conservation areas to show up for the recruitment process.
This is in response to the wildlife prevailing protection challenges in the country.
“The recruitment will be conducted only in the designated recruitment centers and dates by a team of KWS officers. The exercise is absolutely free of charge and KWS will not be responsible for any recruitment conducted outside stated guidelines.”
“Persons with disability, women, those from marginalized areas and minority communities are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will be required to undergo mandatory paramilitary training for a period of nine (9) months and thereafter be deployed to the field,” the statement read in part.
