The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has announced a nationwide recruitment drive, set for October, as it seeks to bolster its ranks with new cadets, specialist officers, and tradespeople.
In a statement released on Monday, KDF described the annual intake as “a unique opportunity to serve your country in a vital, supportive capacity.” Positions on offer include General Service Officer (GSO) cadets, specialist officers, tradesmen and women, and professionals in fields such as education, engineering, ICT, law, supply chain, and mass communication.
Applicants who succeed will undergo what the military called “rigorous selection and training processes, designed to instil discipline, patriotism, and technical competence.”
Strict requirements
The minimum entry requirements vary by role.
- GSO Graduate Cadets must hold at least a mean grade of B (plain) in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), with a C+ in English, mathematics, and one science subject. A recognised bachelor’s degree is also required. Training will last 15 months.
- GSO Regular Cadets need the same KCSE grades but are not required to hold a degree. Their training, lasting three years, leads to a Bachelor of Science in Defence and Security Studies.
- Specialist Officers must have a KCSE grade of B (plain), a bachelor’s degree, and, where relevant, registration with professional bodies. Chaplains and Imams may apply with a minimum KCSE grade of C+. Training will take six months.
- Tradesmen and women may apply with either a diploma or a craft certificate. Diploma holders need a KCSE grade of C (plain) and must be registered with statutory bodies, while those with craft or certificate qualifications must have at least a D+ and a government trade test or craft certificate.
A career and a calling
The recruitment is part of KDF’s wider effort to expand its capacity while maintaining high standards. The military emphasised that the intake is not just about filling positions but about building careers grounded in service to the country.
Analysts say the recruitment drive also reflects Kenya’s need to strengthen its defence and security forces in a fast-changing regional environment, where both traditional and non-traditional threats are growing.
Applications are open ahead of the October exercise, and KDF has urged interested candidates to review the eligibility criteria carefully before presenting themselves at recruitment centres across the country.
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