The high number of youths turning up for the Kenya Defence Forces recruitment exercise shows they have faith in the forces.
Lt Col Elon Were who led the exercise in Kangema, Murang’a county, on Monday said it is encouraging to see youths coming out in large numbers in an attempt to join KDF.
Were said over 200 people turned up in Kangema and gave an assurance that only the best were picked.
He noted that there were no cases of forgeries and that those who were disqualified failed to meet the required standards.
“We have a criteria that we follow to get what we want. We focus a lot on academic, physical and medical correctness and I can give an assurance that we have got the best out of Kangema,” he said.
Were said his team has been going around Kirinyaga and Murang’a counties since last week and that it will conclude the exercise on Friday in Gatanga.
“I have to say that we are impressed because we often find individuals who are so desperate to join the system that they engage in malpractices like forgery but we are yet to get such cases here,” he said.
He however noted that a good number of the youths that have been turning up for the exercise have been dropped for failing to produce original documents.
Many, he said, assume that it is okay to present photocopies and that the KDF authenticates their academic qualifications through original documents.
He further noted that the recruitment exercise has been free and fair.
“After getting through this process, nobody should follow them asking for any kind of favors or money because they have gone through the process and subjected to a physical exercise,” he said.
He said several youths from Kangema were found to be suffering from optical issues and were disqualified.
“We subject the recruits to health and physical checks to confirm their height and body mass index,” he added, noting that their blood and urine samples are also taken to the laboratory for further tests.
