Local News

KDF Launches Nationwide Recruitment Amid Nairobi Court Battle

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has begun its 2025 physical recruitment exercise for general duty recruits and defence constables across all counties starting today, October 13, 2025. The recruitment drive, which will continue until October 25, 2025, also includes General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets, Specialist Officers, and Tradesmen and Women as part of KDF's annual enlistment program. However, the process faces a legal challenge from 19 Nairobi Members of Parliament who allege discrimination due to the limited number of recruitment centres allocated to the city.

The physical recruitment for General Duty recruits and Defence Constables will take place at designated centres in every county from October 13 to October 25, 2025. Applications for online roles, including Specialist Officers and GSO Cadets, closed on October 12, 2025, through the official recruitment portal at recruit.mod.go.ke. Shortlisted candidates will be notified via local print media between October 21 and October 24, 2025.

To qualify, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Be Kenyan citizens aged between 18 and 26 years.

  • Have a minimum KCSE grade of D (Plain) for general duty recruits, while officer and specialist roles require higher and specific academic qualifications.

  • Meet physical and medical fitness standards, including a minimum height of 5 feet and a minimum weight of 54.5 kg for men and 50 kg for women.

  • Be free of tattoos and have no criminal record.

  • Female candidates must not be pregnant at the start or during the training period.

KDF has emphasized that the recruitment process is free of charge and has warned against bribery or corrupt practices, stating that anyone found engaging in such activities will face legal action.

The recruitment exercise has sparked controversy in Nairobi, where 19 MPs, including Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, and Woman Representative Esther Passaris, have filed a petition in the High Court. They argue that Nairobi, with its 17 sub-counties, has been unfairly allocated only three recruitment centres, unlike other counties where centres are designated for each gazetted sub-county. The MPs claim this arrangement will create logistical challenges, overcrowding, and inequitable access for Nairobi residents, particularly the youth eager to join the military.

The petition, filed against Attorney General Dorcas Oduor and the Ministry of Defence, seeks a court order to compel the government to revise and re-publish the recruitment schedule to ensure equitable distribution of centres across all constituencies or sub-counties in Nairobi. The legislators argue that the current plan violates Article 27 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination. They assert that the limited centres will disadvantage Nairobi residents compared to applicants in other counties, leading to indirect discrimination.

The Attorney General and the Ministry of Defence have urged the court to dismiss the petition, arguing that the recruitment process is designed to ensure national equity and efficiency. However, the MPs maintain that the current itinerary will result in logistical constraints and unfair treatment for Nairobi's youth.

Justice Bahati Mwamuye is set to deliver a ruling on October 16, 2025, on whether to suspend the nationwide recruitment exercise. While he declined to issue an interim order halting the process, he noted that the court could still stop the exercise midway if the petition is found to have merit. The outcome of the ruling could significantly impact the ongoing recruitment drive, particularly for Nairobi residents seeking to participate.

As the KDF moves forward with its recruitment, the legal battle in Nairobi highlights ongoing concerns about equitable access to opportunities within the country's military enlistment process. The resolution of this dispute will likely set a precedent for future recruitment exercises.