Vice Chief of the Defence Forces (VCDF), Lieutenant General John Omenda with Lieutenant Colonel Alice Ngure in Kilifi on October 24,2025/KDF The Kenya Defence Forces has commended the smooth progress and strong turnout witnessed during the ongoing nationwide recruitment exercise for general duty recruits and defence forces constables.
The exercise ends on Saturday, October 25.
As part of a nationwide assessment tour, the Vice Chief of the Defence Forces (VCDF), Lieutenant General John Omenda, visited Friday recruitment centres in the coastal region to monitor the progress.
He inspected the Likoni and Kilifi centres, which were under the supervision of Senior Recruitment Officers Lieutenant Colonel Hesbon Mugane and Lieutenant Colonel Alice Ngure, respectively.
The exercise, which began on October 13, has seen thousands of hopeful candidates turn up across the country in pursuit of the opportunity to serve in the military.
Lt Gen Omenda expressed satisfaction with the overall conduct of the exercise, noting high levels of discipline among candidates and strong cooperation from local communities.
“We are impressed by the turnout and the discipline demonstrated by our young men and women. The cooperation from local leaders and residents has been exemplary,” he said.
He praised recruitment teams for upholding transparency, professionalism and integrity, stating that such commitment has strengthened public confidence in the process.
“Our teams have maintained a high degree of professionalism and transparency, which has strengthened public confidence in the recruitment process,” he added.
The VCDF also acknowledged that while minor logistical challenges and large crowds had been encountered in some areas, officers on the ground had managed them efficiently to ensure fairness and order.
Lt Gen Omenda emphasised that the KDF remains steadfast in its zero-tolerance policy on corruption, reiterating that recruitment into the Defence Forces is free, fair, and strictly merit-based.
He warned the public against paying anyone to secure a position, noting that stringent oversight mechanisms, including multi-agency supervision and strict adherence to recruitment guidelines, have been put in place to maintain credibility.
The Vice Chief further revealed that shortlisting for the general service officer cadets, specialist officers, and tradesmen and women categories has been completed.
Successful candidates in these categories will be notified ahead of their recruitment and interviews scheduled to begin in November.
Upon conclusion of the current phase, successful general duty recruits and constables will proceed to medical and vetting stages before joining training schools, where they will embark on their journey of transformation into disciplined and professional servicemen and women.
Lt Gen Omenda reaffirmed KDF’s commitment to maintaining high recruitment standards, saying the exercise demonstrates the Defence Forces’ continued effort to build a competent, diverse, and service-driven military that represents the true spirit of Kenya.
