Hundreds of youths in Garissa on Tuesday turned for the Kenyan Defense Forces (KDF) recruitment exercise held at the Garissa primary school playgrounds.
As anticipated only five girls turned up for the recruitment compared to their male counterparts.
Addressing the press senior recruitment officer in charge of Garissa Lt. Col. James Okumu said that the turnout was ‘good’ but most of the candidates did not meet the minimum education qualifications whereas others were eliminated on medical grounds.
He said only those who meet the set minimum requirements will be given a fair chance to join the KDF.
“The doctors observed that most of the candidates had issues to do with their dental, skin that was used to further eliminate the candidates from the long list,” Lt Col. Okumu.
“Majority of the Garissa school leavers did not meet the minimum education qualifications. Some have not picked their certificates from their former schools. KDF gives equal opportunities to all Kenyans,” he added.
Lt Col Okumu said about 10 males and 2 females will be picked in the exercise that kicked off yesterday and will run up to September 8.
The KDF recruitment drive is looking to enlist General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets (both regular and graduate degree holders), Specialist Officers, General Duty Recruits, Tradesmen and Women, and Defence Forces Constables.
Vice Chief of the Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Jonah Mwangi, while addressing journalists at the Defense Forces Headquarters in Hurlingham, Nairobi emphasized the importance of diversity within the KDF saying the recruitment is necessary to address human resource and capacity gaps within the military.
Lieutenant General Mwangi called upon the public to uphold the KDF’s values and report any suspicious activities related to the recruitment process on hotline numbers (0726419709 or 0726419706).
Successful candidates in the cadet category will proceed to the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet, Nakuru County, for further processing. Meanwhile, confirmed General Duty Recruits and Tradesmen and Women will attend training at the Kenya Defense Forces Recruit Training School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
By Jacob Songok
