Ladies locked out of KDF recruitment in Lamu Central

The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) on Monday turned away women recruits who had shown up at the Kibaki Grounds on Lamu Island to seek chances to join the military.

Hundreds of the women were disappointed when the Senior Recruiting Officer in charge of the Lamu Central Sub-County, Lieutenant Colonel Hamisi Msagha announced that there were no provisions for ladies in this year’s recruitment in that particular recruiting centre.

Lamu Central Sub-County incorporates Hindi, Mokowe, and Amu Divisions, all found within Lamu West Constituency.

“I want to be clear that in this particular exercise here in Lamu Central Recruiting Centre, we won’t recruit ladies. The reason is that according to the instructions given and according to the National Statistics, this area already has enough personnel. Therefore, it’s unfortunate we will not be recruiting the ladies,” Msagha said.

He went further to explain that in the other stations of Lamu, including Mpeketoni and Faza, there will be the possibility of them considering and recruiting ladies that they will find to have the potential to join the forces.

The ladies who were locked out were unhappy about the development.

“I am disappointed to see women denied recruitment opportunity to join the military. I am not convinced that the forces have enough women from Lamu. That’s ironic. If so, let them release the statistics for us to see and believe,” said Raya.

Fatma Ahmed, 25, said she was expecting to be selected now that she is remaining with only a year to attain the maximum age bracket of 26.

“I am very discouraged. I was prepared for the recruitment exercise. I knew this was my second last chance, considering I am 25 and next year I will be 26. What happened today is unfair,” said Fatma.

Jemimah Mwangi said she had travelled all the way from the remote village of Bobo in Hindi Ward to come to Lamu Town for the recruitment only for her to be turned away.

“I have no job and my only hope was that today, at least I get a chance to join the forces. I have travelled for over 70 kilometres to Lamu Town. I have spent a lot only for me to get disappointed. The KDF should have informed us earlier. We would have avoided these unnecessary costs surely,” said Jemimah.

Mkomani Ward MCA Abbas Sheikhuna also expressed disappointment over the move to lock out women in the Lamu Central KDF recruitment exercise this year.

“Next time, let our women be informed in advance. We have ladies who have come from far away and spent cash in hotels and guest houses as they waited for this big day only for them to be told they have no place. It’s disappointing,” said Sheikhuna.

This is not the first time women in Lamu are locked out of KDF recruitment.

In 2017 and 2018, Lamu women were locked out of the recruitment exercise on similar grounds.