The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment exercise in Turkana County kicked off on Monday in an exercise largely termed transparent and fair.
However, there were concerns that none of the candidates who had turned up to be recruited as cadets were selected on the first day in Turkana Central.
The officer in charge of Turkana county recruitment Lt Colonel Denis Tialal said there were no major hiccups except two incidents of male candidates who fainted during the exercise but they were attended to by medics and were in stable condition.
‘KDF recruitment exercise is free and we are cautioning members of the public not to pay bribes to anyone, those found doing so risk losing their money to conmen and we shall also prosecute them for their crimes,’ he said.
Unlike in the past where the names of successful candidates were read out publicly after the exercise, this year the names were not made public.
The media were not also informed of the names of the successful candidates leaving them to track the candidates who made it to the last vetting exercise at Lodwar GK Prisons ground.
Sources intimated that the nondisclosure was part of the new national policy in the disciplined forces.
KNA managed to speak to two of the candidates who made it to the exercise. A first-timer and another one who had tried three times. However, they declined to go on record.
Lt Colonel Tialal urged those who were unsuccessful to try next time and also explore other avenues in the other formations like Kenya police.
The exercise will continue in the other sub-counties and today (Tuesday) the officers will be in Kibish Sub County.
By Peter Gitonga
