KDF Kicks off Recruitment

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment exercise started on Monday and all Kenyan citizens, including those from previously stateless communities, are eligible to participate as long as they meet the set criteria.

Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Jonah Mwangi, assures that both the Pemba and Shona communities will be included in the recruitment process. A total of 374 centres across 47 counties will recruit Officer Cadets, Recruits, and KDF Constables over a span of two weeks. Applications for special officer cadets and artisans were handled through the Department of Defence’s online portal which closed on August 20th.

The shortlisting process has begun and the candidates selected will receive notifications through print media between 17 and 24 September. The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has announced its recruitment exercise for special cadets, general duty recruits, and tradesmen and women. The enlistment procedure anticipates compulsory medical inspections and a thorough check of documentation aligned with military benchmarks.

Candidates who meet the outlined requirements will receive a prompt message, instructing for the collection of a call letter before commencing relevant training at either Lanet’s Kenyan Military Academy or Eldoret’s Recruits Training School. The KDF expects a large number of applicants this year as the last recruitment exercise was held in 2021. The recruitment is necessary to address human resource and capacity gaps and to adapt to the defence and security environment.

Lt Gen Mwangi urges the public to avoid individuals who claim to have influence in the recruitment process outside the designated centres or mechanisms. To curb corruption, the KDF has deployed oversight measures, including intelligence officers, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officers, and the media. Since 2017, the KDF has recorded about 80 cases of fraud, with many under investigation and about 56 closed through the KDF’s internal processes. The public is encouraged to report any suspicious activities they witness to the recruitment teams or call 0726419709 or 0726419706.