Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Charles Kahariri have been urged to take action following claims of irregularities in the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment exercise.
This follows the emergence of a video showing a young man, said to be from Garissa, who claimed he was unfairly denied a slot in the military despite meeting all the required qualifications.
In the clip circulating online, the 22-year-old alleged that he had successfully passed all stages of the recruitment process, only to be replaced by another candidate who, according to him, did not even take part in the physical drills.
Defence Leaders Pressed to Act on Reported Malpractices in KDF Recruitment. Photo: Courtesy.
The incident has sparked calls for the Ministry of Defence and the KDF leadership to investigate the allegations and ensure transparency and fairness in the ongoing recruitment exercise.
He alleged that the October 14 recruitment exercise lacked transparency, insisting he met all physical and academic qualifications but was still denied selection.
“On Tuesday, October 14, I participated in the KDF recruitment, and I passed in everything, including weight and height, and I even emerged first in running. But at around 7pm on the same day, I was replaced by someone who was not even in the recruitment centre. The person was brought in by a vehicle.”
The alleged victim went on to call on CS Tuya and President William Ruto to intervene and ensure he earns his rightful place in the military.
The incident comes days after CDF Charles Kahariri urged recruitment officers to uphold integrity and transparency in the exercise that began on October 13.
Speaking on October 9 in Nairobi, Kahariri warned that any officer involved in malpractice would face immediate disciplinary action, stressing that public trust in the military depends on a fair and merit-based process.
