The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) General Charles Kahariri has fired a warning ahead of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment that begins on October 13.
Speaking on Thursday, October 9, during a briefing session at Defence Headquarters in Nairobi, Kahariri urged recruitment officers to uphold integrity, transparency, and professionalism during the two-week exercise.
The CDF reminded officers that Kenyans' trust and confidence in the military hinges on fair and merit-based processes.
He warned that any officer found engaging in activities that disparage the conduct of the exercise would face immediate and severe disciplinary action. He added that corruption undermines national security by compromising the quality of personnel joining the military.
The military chief noted that KDF had incorporated technology in the process to enhance verification of applicants and eliminate the possibility of malpractice.
“The reputation of the KDF has been built over decades of discipline and service to the nation. This exercise must reflect our core values of integrity, patriotism, and excellence," General Kahariri affirmed.
Adding, "Technology is now at the heart of our recruitment process, and it is our duty to ensure it is used effectively to eliminate human interference and corruption.”
Kahariri's sentiments were echoed by Commander Kenya Army, Lieutenant General David Ketter, who stressed the critical role of recruitment officers as the first link between the KDF and the public.
He urged recruiting officers to ensure successful candidates are selected purely on merit.
At the same time, Assistant Chief of Defence Forces in charge of Personnel and Logistics, Major General Edward Rugend,o highlighted that digital data management systems would be used to record recruitment progress in real time, thus guaranteeing fairness across all stations.
Meanwhile, the upcoming recruitment exercise is scheduled to take place across all counties from October 13 to October 25, 2025.
Among the requirements included being a Kenyan citizen, having a valid identity card, the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) pin certificate and academic certificates.
Further, an applicant must be between the ages of 18 and 28 for cadets and general duty officers, while constables must be between the ages of 30 to 55 years.
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