Ruto Announces Recruitment of 500 Athletes into KDF and Police

President William Ruto has disclosed some select Kenyans who will be hired by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and the National Police Service (NPS) in their recruitments this year.

Ruto, while speaking on Thursday, October 2, during a breakfast meeting at State House, Nairobi, with Kenyan athletes who represented the country at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, stated that a total of 500 athletes will be recruited into the KDF and NPS.

“I have discussed with the disciplined services, both our KDF and our National Police Service and we have agreed that a total of 500 sportsmen and women will be hired into our disciplined services to provide them a base where they can get the necessary equipment, the necessary support for them to continue raising the standard of sports in our country,” the President said.

“I have discussed with the CDF (Chief of Defence Forces), and in the recruitment that is going on, 200 sportsmen and sportswomen will be hired into the military. I have also discussed with the Inspector General of Police, and he has also confirmed to me that 150 sportsmen and sportswomen will be hired into the NPS.”

Also Read: Police Recruitment 2025: How to Download and Fill Application Form in Advance

The Head of State further said that he will be discussing with the Kenya Prisons Service, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and the National Youth Service to recruit more sportsmen and sportswomen into the disciplined agencies.

Affordable houses for Tokyo Champions

Ruto also announced that the athletes who bagged gold medals at the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships will secure houses under the Affordable Housing Program.

He said the team will secure the houses through the same process as the Harambee Stars following their CHAN 2024 heroics and outlined the government-backed payment plan that will make the initiative affordable for them.

Also Read: 20% of Affordable Housing Units to Be Reserved for Teachers

Under the arrangement, each two-bedroom house, valued at Ksh2 million, will be partially funded by the government.

“You also asked me to consider the matter of affordable housing for medalists as was extended to the Harambee Stars at the CHAN. I want to confirm that just as we did with the Harambee Stars’ CHAN team, the seven medalists will also benefit just the way the others did.” President Ruto noted.

“The government will pay for half of the house of your choice. We will pay half; you pay the other half. If you don’t have the money to pay, we are going to do what we are doing for all other Kenyans. We will extend a soft loan for you to pay about Ksh5,000 every month for a house that you will end up owning. And because we have already paid half, you will be paying probably Ksh2,500 or thereabout.”

At the Tokyo World Athletics Championships, Kenya finished second overall in the world behind the United States and first in Africa. The team secured a total of 11 medals including 7 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals.

Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.