Lieutenant General Jonah Mwangi, the Vice Chief of Defence Forces (VCDF) on Monday, 28th August launched the 2023 Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment exercise at the Defence Headquarters, Nairobi.
The exercise, last conducted in 2021 commenced immediately at all the publicised recruiting centres nationwide and runs up to Friday 8th September 2023.
Recruitment into the KDF is necessitated by human resource and capacity gaps in various military establishments and the need for continuous alignment with the defence and security environment.
In his address, the VCDF disclosed that the recruitment shall be conducted between 8.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. daily in the listed 374 centres across all 47 counties and shall recruit officer cadets, recruits and Defence Force’s constabularies drawn from ex-KDF and ex-National Youth Service (NYS) officers.
Under the officer cadet cadre, KDF shall recruit General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets, Graduate GSO Cadets as well as Specialist Officer Cadets while recruits shall consist of General Duty (GD) recruits (artisans) as well as Tradesmen and women.
Upon completion of the exercise, successful applicants shall be issued with calling letters to commence basic military training at the Kenya Military Academy (KMA) in Nakuru for cadets, and the Recruits Training School (RTS) in Eldoret for recruits.
“To all aspiring candidates, be mindful that this is not a job but a calling. Every single day, the men and women in uniform renew their commitment to serve humanity and this is the conscious choice you’re just about to make. However, we assure you that military service is a worthwhile undertaking and I welcome all willing potential candidates to present themselves for recruitment,” said the VCDF.
Speaking on the Specialists cadets, tradesmen and women recruits, Lt Gen Mwangi said that the application for these categories closed on 20th August 2023. Adding that the shortlisting of the Specialists Officer Cadets and Tradesmen and women is ongoing and that successful candidates shall be published in the print media between 17 and 19 September 2023.
“Shortlisting of the candidates is only the first step in the process considering that the physical verification of documents and medical examinations based on military benchmarks shall be conducted thereafter,” he maintained.
The VCDF implored the members of the public to desist from fraud and other corruption malpractices since it violates the integrity pillar of KDF core values adding that intelligence and anti-corruption teams have already been activated.
“We request Kenyans in their patriotic mandate to volunteer information on any suspicious activity by reporting to the recruiting teams in the ground or call hotline number +254 726 419 709 or +254 726 419 706,” Lt Gen Mwangi said.
The VCDF was accompanied by the Deputy Army Commander Major General David Tarus, Assistant Chief of Defence Forces in charge of Personnel and Logistics (ACDF P&L) Major General David Keter, Director of Medical Services (DMS) Major General (Dr.) George Ng’ang’a, Chief Recruiting Officer Brigadier Mathew Lenamunai among other senior military officers.
