Eighteen Members of Parliament representing Nairobi constituencies have faulted the itinerary for the upcoming Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment, claiming it discriminates against the city’s large population.
In a communiqué dated September 16, the MPs, led by Embakasi West MP and National Assembly Minority Whip Mark Mwenje, argued that the advertised schedule does not meet constitutional principles of fairness and equal opportunity. The letter, signed by 17 other legislators, highlights concerns that Nairobi has been allocated disproportionately few recruitment centres compared to its vast population.
According to the itinerary, Nyayo Stadium will serve recruits from Embakasi (East, West, North, South), Kamukunji, Makadara, and Starehe constituencies. Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, will cater for candidates from Kasarani, Ruaraka, Mathare, and Roysambu, while Jamhuri Grounds will serve those from Dagoretti (North and South), Lang’ata, Kibra, and Westlands.
The MPs contend that consolidating applicants from multiple constituencies into just three venues is impractical. “The logistical parameters of this recruitment exercise demonstrably fail to account for the unique demographic challenges and high population density of Nairobi,” their statement read in part.
They further warned that crowding thousands of applicants into a handful of centres could create logistical nightmares, compromise security, and undermine the credibility of the recruitment. “The allocation for Nairobi should be commensurate with the percentage of the country’s population,” the MPs stated, demanding the creation of recruitment centres in all 17 constituencies.
The legislators have given the Ministry of Defence seven days to respond to their demands, threatening unspecified action if ignored.
KDF announced its 2025 nationwide recruitment on September 15, targeting General Service Officer Cadets, Specialist Officers, Tradesmen and women, as well as professionals in ICT, law, education, and engineering. The exercise is scheduled for October 2025.
