A 22-year-old university student tragically lost his life on Wednesday, October 22, during a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment exercise held in Kabuchai constituency, Bungoma County.
The young man, a student at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), reportedly collapsed while participating in one of the physically demanding training drills that form part of the initial recruitment screening.
Confirming the incident, the Bungoma Police Commander said the student was among tens of other hopefuls who were participating in a running drill before he collapsed.
“There was a boy who lost consciousness while they were running. He was rushed to Chwele Sub-County Hospital. Sadly, he was pronounced dead upon arrival," he said.
The exact cause of death has not yet been made public, pending a full medical examination and postmortem.
KDF recruitment exercises are known for their intense physical demands, designed to filter out candidates based on their strength, stamina and resilience.
Drills typically include long-distance runs, push-ups, sit-ups, high jumps and other endurance tasks conducted under high pressure and strict supervision.
Eliud Yegon, one of the officers in charge of the recruitment exercise, explained that the drills were, in most cases, the difference between finding a suitable candidate to join the forces.
He also flagged the use of illicit medication by youth, which effectively rendered them incapable of keeping up with some of the drills.
“You must be physically fit as per the KDF standards. Also, some of the candidates are eliminated because of the use of drugs,” Yegon said.
Another issue which was flagged as a key disqualifier for many of the hopefuls was documentation inconsistencies. According to Yegon, some candidates' birth certificates and ID differed, making it impossible to verify their identity.
Besides physical fitness assessments, candidates also undergo strict medical screenings and structured interviews to ensure only the best are selected.
The current recruitment exercise targets onboarding General Service Officer (GSO) cadets – regular and graduate, Specialist Officers, General Duty Recruits, Tradesmen and Women, and Defence Forces Constables.
