Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya has confirmed that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment will continue as planned, even though Nairobi County legislators have taken the matter to court. She also announced new measures to guide the process.
A legal case was filed by a group of lawmakers from Nairobi, led by Senator Edwin Sifuna. They accuse the Defence Ministry of allocating too few recruitment centres in the capital, saying this could disadvantage eligible candidates from the county.
Speaking on Monday, October 13, while officially launching the nationwide recruitment, Tuya said the exercise would go on unless a court issues an order stopping it. She emphasized that the ministry is not ignoring the concerns raised and is in dialogue with the lawmakers.
“We have been engaging Nairobi leaders, especially MPs, about the designated recruitment centre so we can address the matters they highlighted,” Tuya said.
She added, “The case is still in court, but no directive has been given to halt the recruitment. So we will proceed, and once the court makes a decision, we will comply fully with whatever ruling is issued.”
Who KDF Is Recruiting
The exercise, which runs until October 25, will target several categories of recruits. These include:
- General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets – both regular and graduate
- Specialist Officers
- General Duty Recruits
- Tradesmen and Tradeswomen
- Defence Forces Constables
Anti-Fraud Crackdown
To ensure fairness, Tuya announced that the ministry has relaunched a crackdown on anyone trying to extort money from applicants. She made it clear that bribery and influence-peddling will not be tolerated.
She revealed that the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and regular police officers are all involved in monitoring the process closely to prevent corruption.
Anyone caught soliciting bribes or manipulating the recruitment process will be arrested on the spot and prosecuted, she warned.
Tuya also urged the public to report any suspicious activities using the official hotline numbers: 0726 419 706 and 0726 419 709.
Zero-Tolerance Message
“We are launching this exercise with a very clear message: KDF recruitment is free, fair, and open to all eligible Kenyans. Any form of canvassing or bribery will lead to arrest and prosecution,” she stated.
She encouraged applicants to take pride in the process rather than feel intimidated.
“Let this be a moment of pride, not fear. The Kenya Defence Forces stand for discipline, dignity, and duty, and every recruit must reflect those values,” she added.
Join Government Official WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
