Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba. /FILEGithunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has questioned what she describes as “unfair and discriminatory” police and military recruitment rules that disqualify otherwise qualified applicants over dental imperfections linked to high fluoride levels in water.
Applicants seeking to join the National Police Service (NPS) or the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) are required to meet stringent entry standards covering education, physical fitness, and medical health.
Candidates must be Kenyan citizens aged between 18 and 28, possess at least a KCSE mean grade of D+, and meet the minimum height requirements of 5ft 8in for men and 5ft 3in for women. They must also have no criminal record, while female candidates are required not to be pregnant at the time of recruitment or during training.
While many applicants satisfy these criteria, some have reportedly been disqualified during health and physical examinations due to missing or discoloured teeth.
This practice has drawn concern from several legislators, who have questioned how dental appearance affects one’s ability to serve in the disciplined forces.
Wamuchomba, in a post on X, said residents in her constituency are often disadvantaged because of high fluoride levels in water, which can cause dental discolouration.
“During police and military recruitments, many of my voters complain that they were dropped because they have dental issues despite passing physical and fitness tests. My constituency has water fluoride issues that generally cause discolouration of teeth in some areas,” she said.
“Is there a policy or protocol that dictates that discoloured teeth can’t hold a gun or operate a parachute? Just asking as a laywoman. We feel discriminated,” she added.
The question of dental health in military and police recruitment has been debated for years.
Critics argue that excluding candidates on the basis of dental appearance alone unfairly locks out otherwise capable and patriotic Kenyans eager to serve.
Security officials, however, maintain that the rules are based on health and operational considerations.
During a television interview in August 2023, a senior military officer explained that severe tooth discolouration may indicate underlying bone problems, which could increase the risk of injuries during training.
“If you have severe discolouration, it may suggest a problem with bone structure, making one more prone to accidents. A dental injury during training would require hospitalization instead of full participation, which disadvantages the recruit,” the officer said.
He added that recruiting officers inform applicants of the reasons for their disqualification, including possible health risks, and encourage them to seek medical evaluation.
The officer also noted that not all cases of dental discolouration lead to disqualification.
“We understand that some areas in the country have high fluoride content in water, which can cause mild tooth discolouration. In such cases, doctors assess whether a candidate faces any health risks, and some are cleared for recruitment based on medical recommendations,” he said.
The debate underscores the challenge of balancing health standards with equal opportunity in the recruitment of Kenya’s disciplined forces.
The discussion comes as the NPS prepares for a nationwide recruitment of police constables on November 17, 2025, a few weeks after the KDF concluded its own exercise on October 25.
