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Kenya Forest Service (KFS) became the first uniformed force to recruit its warders from the National Youth Service following a presidential directive.
During the passing-out of over 10,700 young men and women last month at NYS training institute in Gilgil, President Uhuru Kenyatta directed all uniformed forces to employ youths who have undergone basic NYS training.
But on Tuesday, many of the youth who turned up for the exercise at the institute returned home a disappointed lot after learning that only few would be enrolled.
Incidentally, youths from Garissa, Vihiga and Turkana gave the exercise a wide berth, while many others were under-represented.
Speaking to the Press later, KFS Senior Deputy Director Monica Kalenda termed the exercise a success, adding that they were directed to recruit only 244 youths.
She said that the discharge certificate for the recruits was a must and the youths were supposed to produce it during the recruitment drive.
“We are going as per the advert we placed in media last month.
“Those who succeed from here will join our training school in Londiani, Kericho County,” said Ms Kalenda.
“We are only following policies set by the executive, that only those who have gone through NYS be given a chance to serve in KFS,” she added.
Antony Ndiema, who was unsuccessful said most of them were still serving in the various NYS projects across the country and had not been issued with a discharge certificate.
He said NYS training is vigorous and requires one to serve for close to three years at different levels before a certificate of completion is issued.
“We never knew that failure to issue a discharge certificate would be a problem since we have other documents proving that indeed we have been at NYS,” said Ndiema.
Disappointed lot
Another disappointed recruit Mildred Simiyu said after basic training at NYS, the recruits have to do national projects, then come back for a professional course before formally leaving the college.
She said that most of the recruits had attained the required age to serve in the forces and wondered why they were not being considered.
“KFS says the age limit is 25 years and some of us have attained this. We do not know where to go as this is our only hope,” she said.
Meanwhile, an Administration Police (AP) officer based in Naivasha is fighting for his life at the hospital after he was shot and seriously injured during a raid in the house of a wanted drug baron.
The constable based at Kinamba AP camp was shot in the stomach during the 1am incident at the sleepy Kinamba trading centre along the Naivasha-Kinangop road.
His two colleagues escaped unhurt during the incident that saw the drug baron and some of his foot soldiers escape, two of them in handcuffs.
One suspect was nabbed and a motor vehicle and a motorcycle confiscated.
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