Army defends recruit selection in Amagoro

THE Kenya Army yesterday dismissed claims by a section of Teso leaders that the Wednesday recruitment exercise in Amagoro lacked regional balance. The leaders led by Malaba town council public officer, Stephen Otwane, asked that the selections be nullified claiming that out of 10 recruits only one comes from Amagoro and the rest from Angurai. He said senior army officers from Angurai influenced the recruitment of their kin.

Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Kangor however said the exercise was fair with Amagoro division taking four slots for men and Angurai six including one for a woman who emerged top in a 3km race. Families of the four successful recruits from Amagoro defended the exercise saying regional balance was taken into account contrary to claims by the leaders.

Two recruits were picked from Kamuriai location, one from Amoni and Okuleu locations. Those recruited in Angurai were from Chamasiri, Changara, Kakapel and Angurai while the only female recruit hails from Moding. Kangor said Angurai landed two extra slots because of their running abilities. He said the woman recruit was number one in the race and it would have been unfair to leave her out. In the men’s race, the officer said the top seven finishers were from Angurai with those taking position 9 to 20 also coming from Angurai. More than 300 aspiring recruits were locked out of the exercise for possessing Ugandan O-Level certificates.