Resident collapse and dies during KDF’s drill in Bungoma

Kenya Defense Forces recruitment exercise in Sirisia, Bungoma West yesterday turned tragic  when a recruit collapsed and died. The 22 year-old man collapsed after a 5km jog to Sirisia hills. Senior recruitment officer, Isaiah Kangor said the man died two hours after undergoing treatment at Sirisia sub-district hospital.

The cause of death was not immediately known, but  sources said he died from cardiac arrest, adding that he could have been asthmatic. The incident came a few days after another recruit died in Homa Bay, while participating in the recruitment exercise, raising the question of physical fitness among the youth.

Kangor said over 500 youth had turned up for the exercise which saw 10 male and two female candidates selected after the grueling exercise. Lt Col Kangor blamed the incident on lack of employment which makes the youth to venture into any opportunity however ill prepared they are. Lt Col Kangor urged the youth to train for at least two months to acquire the necessary physical fitness instead.

At least six people have collapsed in Western Province since the start of the exercise   to confirm the ill preparedness of the youths. In Mumias, a woman who finished first in the 3km race was disqualified after medical tests confirmed she was pregnant.