Taekwondo Olympic ‘champ’ Milka Akinyi misses GSU job

Why would a government turn down a professional black belt Taekwondo holder from enlisting into the police service?

Well, that is one question Milka Akinyi a female Taekwondo martial artist with a black belt, second-hand honours is grappling with.

It might be helpful to note that no other female Kenyan has achieved this feat. Akinyi has represented Kenya in almost all Taekwondo games and is currently training for the All-Africa Games to be held in September in Brazzaville, Congo.

The champion, 26, represented Kenya in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing after winning the championship title from the African Qualification Tournament in Tripoli. But the recruiting officers realised she did not have a Form Four certificate.

“Sorry, we can’t help,” Ali Abdi, one of the officers told her as she broke down in tears.

Akinyi said that upon arrival from a continental assignment, she had been asked by a senior police officer to avail herself for recruitment because contribution to the nation was paramount, her academic shortcomings notwithstanding.

Abdi said there was no special case, maintaining that the minimum academic requirement was a D+ in KCSE, with a D+ score in English. He advised her to enroll in a secondary school so she could try her luck after four years. But she will be 30 by then an ineligible.

Akinyi who was born in Mombasa says she dropped out of school due to lack of fees. She took to Taekwondo, which saw her get nominated in 2009 for the Sportswoman of the Year award.

She said she believed her Taekwondo skills will help in combating crime. “I am sad, but it is okay. They should recognise people like us as well,” she said as she walked away.

Meanwhile, recruiting officers told The Nairobian they were under instructions not to consider candidates with C+ and above.

“There is a general perception in the police service that such candidates will resign after a short stint in the service.

“Most of them enroll in various universities and colleges and then quit after graduating,” said an officer who sought anonymity.

The National Police Service Commission chairman Johnston Kavuludi, said the Olympian did not have a certificate and therefore cannot be absorbed into the police service.

“We will not bend the law for the candidate despite the fact that she is an Olympian. The police service is a professional body and there are minimum requirements,” he said.

The first batch of recruits have already reported to Kigango Police Training College.