Hundreds of youths in Baringo central were turned down in the just concluded prison officers’ recruitment for failing to produce original certificates.
Most of the youths claimed they only had Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education result slip since their original certificates were retained at the schools due to school fees arrears.
The youths who had filled the Kabarnet ASK grounds were however not lucky as the recruiting team only had six slots for the entire sub-county.
The recruiting officer in charge of the exercise, Joseph M. Chaka from Taita Taveta Prisons said they had an arduous task to pick the best as many were qualified.
“We are promising members of the public that we will do our best to recruit the four men and two women from the four divisions of the sub-county,” said Mr. Chaka.
The Officer said they had a strict guideline to follow and that they would ensure the exercise was free and fair from any bribery or corruption incident.
“The candidates are required to have a minimum of KCSE mean grade of D + and above and they should be between 18 and 28 years of age,” added Mr. Chaka on the minimum requirements for one to be enlisted to the prisons service.
The Ministry of education had ordered schools to release certificates for students notwithstanding the school fees arrears.
However, most if not all secondary schools administrations have not heeded the directive leaving many youths from poor backgrounds unable to progress into colleges or jobs.
The recruitment exercise was conducted in all the sub counties in Baringo County.
By Irine Bartonjo and Christopher Kiprop
