KDF announces new recruitment dates

Members of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in parade rehearsals at the newly renovated Mombasa's Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa County on September 27, 2019. This was in preparations for the 2019 National Mashujaa Day celebrations which was presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta. [Maarufu Mohamed, Standard]

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has set new dates for recruitment exercise that had been canceled.

The exercise has been rescheduled to from November 7 to December 16, 2019.

The recruitment had been scheduled for October 28 but it was canceled on October 16 following protests from Members of Parliament over recruitment centres.

The ministry of defence said those who had applied earlier must do so afresh.

“The Kenye Defence Forces wishes to notify all Kenyans that the recruitment exercise earlier postponed has been rescheduled to take place from  November 27 to December 16, 2019. Those candidates who had already applied must reapply afresh,” said part of a statement from the ministry.

Recruitment of general service officers, cadets, specialist officers, tradesmen, and tradeswomen will be through applications to the Defence headquarters.

The exercise targeting general duty recruits and defence forces constables will now be done by KDF teams at the sub-county level.

“The applications for General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets, Specialist Officers, and Tradesmen/women to reach the addressee on or before November 27, 2019. Candidates who will be shortlisted for GSO Cadets and Specialist Officers shall be notified through the print media from December 16 to 29, 2019 and Tradesmen/women shall be notified through the print media from December 23 to 29, 2019.”

The exercise was canceled after members of the Parliamentary Defence and Foreign Relations Committee clashed with Defense CS Raychelle Omamo over recruitment centers.

The government had indicated that the recruitment would take place at the county headquarters, a move that was opposed by the Parliamentary Defence and Foreign Relations Committee.

The MPs insisted that the exercise should be held at the sub-counties to avoid locking out hundreds of youths.

This forced the ministry to announce the new dates and centres. More than 3,000 personnel are targeted in the exercise that is likely to be competitive. Some Kenyans are conned in