Residents of recently established Mwea Sub-County, Embu, claim they have already been sidelined in the upcoming Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment drive because the area was omitted from the list of recruitment centres in the county.
They argued that this had denied many young people who wished to join KDF the opportunity to try their luck and called on the government to urgently address the matter before the exercise commences later this month.
They said this will force those interested to travel all the way to Umau Stadium in Mavuria Ward, approximately 100 kilometres away, as it used to happen previously before the area was elevated to a sub-county last year.
“We hoped the new status would ease the agony our children were used to as they were forced to travel to the recruitment centre a day before to be on time for the exercise,” said a resident, Ann Mwethia.
Speaking during a public baraza at Karaba Town presided over by County Commissioner Jack Obuo on Thursday, Ms. Mwethia said they not only hoped to have a recruitment centre in their locality but also an increase in the number of slots from the two they used to get previously.
Another resident, Sila Mwaniki, said the sub-county should not be treated differently from others in government programmes or matters of public interest.
“We are not subject to or a junior partner to any other sub-county and we are humbly asking to be accorded full autonomy,” he said.
Another resident, Brigit Muthoni, said they ought to be given a full package of all that it takes to be called a sub-county.
Makima Ward, MCA Philip Nzangi called on the government to move with speed and ensure the area gets the relevant code to enable it to take part in such key activities as well as facilitate service delivery.
County Commissioner Jack Obuo assured the resident that they had already taken up the matter with the relevant organs and were optimistic that a way forward would be given soon with regard to KDF recruitment.
He also called on the residents to exercise patience as they look into ways of ensuring all relevant government offices and services are established in the locality.
By Samuel Waititu
