Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Recruitment Requirements and Application Procedure

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) is a body that encompasses all the armed forces of the Republic of Kenya. KDF, which was established in 2010 in Article 241 of the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, is made up of three arms – the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The president of Kenya is the Commander-in-Chief, and the highest-ranking officer is the Chief of Defence Forces.

One of the roles of the Kenya Defence Forces is the recruitment and training of officers for the security of the nation. Every year, the body recruits new officers that meet the requirements. These new recruits go through training before they become a member of the armed forces.

The Kenya Defence Forces Recruitment Excercise

The Kenya Defence Forces try their very best in conducting the recruitment exercise in a transparent and corruption-free manner for the best interest of all the applicants. KDF has publicly warned all the applicants to avoid presenting any fake or manipulated documents which they will not hesitate on disqualifying the candidate and submit such applicant to face the Law. In a bid to avoid corruption, KDF warned all applicants not to pay anyone to help them secure employment. Assuring them that it will take a fair process.

The recruitment exercise is monitored by personnel from the three arms of the Kenya Military, and it is conducted to fill up gaps that exist among the Kenya Army, Navy, and Air Force. Any active officer caught involved with such corrupt activities will face court-martial from a panel of judges of the forces and will face dismissal or worse, according to the decision on the panel members. The recruitment exercise disregards influence and embraces due process and proper procedures which are set in place by the Kenya Defence Forces.

General Requirements for Recruitment Into The Kenyan Defence Forces

There are basic prerequisites every applicant to the KDF must know and have. Candidates are advised to go through these requirements and know if they meet all that is required before obtaining the enrollment form. The general requirements include the following:

  1. Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education with a minimum of C+ in English, Mathematics, and any other subject like Physics, Chemistry, Biology.
  2. You must be a citizen of Kenya. Dual citizenship is not allowed.
  3. You must have a Kenya National Identity Card that is valid.
  4. Candidates must be under the age bracket provided for the level they are applying for. 18-26 is for GSO Cadets, Specialist Officers must not cross 30 years. Chaplains and Imams must not exceed 39 years.
  5. All candidates must be mentally and physically fit and must meet the KDF standard for fitness.
  6. They must have not been involved with any crime.
  7. The minimum height for men is 1.60 m (5 feet and 3 inches) while the minimum height for women is 1.52 m (5 feet).
  8. The minimum weight for men is 54.55kg (120 Ibs) while the minimum weight for women is 50.00 kg (110 Ibs).
  9. Pregnancy is not allowed for a female candidate and will be disqualified if found during the recruitment exercise.

Educational Requirements for Different Entry Levels of the Recruitment

The education requirement necessary for admission into the Kenya Defence Forces is a basic ground for further development of the candidate. The KDF is a disciplined ground for serious-minded individuals who are ready to serve the country. The following are the levels available for this year’s recruitment exercise and its required educational qualifications:

General Service Officer (GSO)

They are required to have a minimum of grade B (Plain) in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, with a minimum of C+ in English, Mathematics, and a Science subject. The candidates in this category will cover 3 years of constant learning in Military Science and Security Studies.

General Duty Recruits (Servicemen and Women)

They must have a minimum cumulated grade of D (plain) in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education.

Technicians

Candidates must possess a minimum grade of C (plain) in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education.

Artisans

Candidates must possess a minimum grade of D+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education, and a recognized certificate with Government Craft II or Trade Test Grade II in an accredited institution.

Constables

The candidate is expected to be a retired Kenya Defence Forces Service Member or an Ex-National Youth Serviceman/woman.

If the candidate is an ex KDF member, it is required he or she must be within the age bracket of 30 to 55 years. Likewise on the side of Ex National Youth Servicemen and women, an age bracket of 35 to 45 years.

Specialist Officers

They are expected to have a minimum of grade B (Plain) in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education with a minimum of C+ in English, Mathematics, and Science subjects.

They are also required to have an undergraduate degree from an accredited higher institution and be registered with an associated professional body. Practical years of experience are an added advantage for applicants. They are expected to undergo training that won’t last for less than 12 weeks. The following are the officers regarded as the Special Officers and their specified requirements:

  • Medical Officers: The candidate is expected to have a Bachelor of Medicine or Bachelor of Surgery degree and must be registered with the Kenyan Medical Association (KMA).
  • Pharmacists: They are expected to have a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy and should also be registered members of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB).
  • Nursing Officers: The candidate is expected to be a graduate of an accredited institution with a Bachelors’s degree in Nursing and should be a registered member of the Nursing Council of Kenya (NCK).
  • Dentists: This category of candidates should have a Bachelors’s degree in Dental Surgery and must also be registered members of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (MPDB).
  • Laboratory Technologist: The laboratory technologist must obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Technology or Medical Laboratory Science.
  • Counseling Psychologists: For this category of candidate, they must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Counseling Psychology.
  • Public Health Officers: The candidates that want to enroll for this position must have a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health or Environmental Science.
  • Cyber Security/Digital Forensic/IT officers: The candidates in this level must possess a Bachelor’s degree in any of these courses – Computer Science/Information, Technology/Software, Engineering/Networking. It is also required that they obtain a recognized certificate in either any of these, Cyber Security, Digital Forensics, and Ethical Hacking or Information Security.
  • Engineers: They are expected to have a Bachelor’s degree certificate in Aeronautical, Electrical, and Electronics, Mechanical, Instrumentation, Control, Telecommunication engineering. Candidates that studied Biomedical, Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, and Mechatronics Engineering are required to be a registered member of the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK).
  • Journalists: Candidates are expected to possess a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication, specializing in Broadcasting or Public Relations, and must have experience of at least 2 years in that field.
  • Lawyers: A Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from an accredited university is required. The candidate must have a valid certificate that shows that they have been practicing for 2 years and must be an advocate of the Kenya High Court.
  • Physical Training Officers: Candidates that want to apply for this position in the KDA must have a bachelor’s degree in Sports Science or even in Bachelor of Education, especially in (Physical Education).
  • Music Specialists: Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in Music.
  • Accounting/Finance Officers: Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce or Accounting from an accredited institution.
  • Hospitality Management/Catering Officers: The candidates that wish to apply must have a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management or Food Production.
  • Statistics Officers: The candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Statistics or Applied Statistics or Actuarial Science.
  • Entrepreneurship and Management Officers: Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship Studies.
  • Library and Information Officers: It is demanded that the candidates applying for this level should possess a Bachelor’s degree in Library and Information Science.
  • Procurement and Supply Chain Management Officers: Applicants are also required to have a Bachelor’s degree in Procurement and Supply Chain Management or Purchasing and Supply Management Studies.
  • Project Managers: Candidates that are applying for the post are required to possess a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Project Planning and Management.
  • Oceanographers: They are also required to have a minimum requirement of a Bachelor’s degree in Oceanography.
  • Quantity Surveyors: Candidates for this post must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Survey and also be registered members with The Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS).
  • Geospatial Information System Programmers: In this category, candidates are required to possess a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Geomatics Engineering or Geospatial Information Systems (GIS).

The Military Agencies Kenya Defence Forces Conduct The Recruitment Exercise For

As already stated, the Kenya Defence Force is a body in charge of the armed forces in Kenya which has three main branches.

1. The Kenya Army

The Kenya Army is responsible for the protection of land territorial boundaries of the Republic of Kenya and its sovereignty. They are well trained in land combat and land tactical enemy engagements. They fully take action commands from the Kenya Defence Forces and are not allowed to act otherwise. The highest-ranking officer in the Kenya Army is the General while the Private is the lowest ranking officer.

2. The Kenya Navy

The Kenya Navy has the job designation of protecting all the sea borders and any form of attack that may affect the sovereignty of the state through the sea. They report any suspected threat to the Kenya Defence Forces and take orders from the KDF. The Admiral is the highest-ranking officer in the Kenya Navy while the Midshipman is the lowest ranking officer.

3. The Kenya Air Force

The Kenya Air Force is responsible for guarding the air boundaries of the Republic of Kenya. They are trained to engage in any sort of air combat and military engagement. The highest rank in the Kenya Air Force is the Air Marshal while the lowest rank is the Leading Aircraftman II.

The military officer with the highest rank in Kenya is the Chief of Defence Forces which can be equated to the rank of General in the army. He acts as the direct military adviser to the Commander-in-chief which is the President and also to the entire National Security Council.

The KDF takes charge of the recruitment exercise of the three arms of the military in Kenya. They carry out their selections according to the academic achievements of qualified applicants that can further their academic career in the Kenya Military Academy. The academy is the organ of the Kenya Defence Forces in charge of graduate special skilled professionals in so many fields of life. The officers are regarded as cadet officers of the defense force, or commissioned officers.

Application Procedures For KDA Recruitment

Applicants should be properly guided on how to apply to the KDF, including the necessary documents that should be attached to an application. Applicants are asked to prepare a written application and attach the equivalent educational qualification and evidence of registration with a professional body relating to the position the applicant is applying for. These documents should be addressed to the office below:

Assistant Chief of the Defence Forces (Personnel and Logistics)
Ministry of Defence,
Defence Headquarters,
Ulinzi House.
P.O.Box 40668_00100
Nairobi.

The applicants under the General Service Officers (GSO) cadets, General Duty Recruits, and the Constables categories are advised to visit the County Headquarters.

Cost of Applying For The Kenya Defence Forces Recruitment

The Kenya Defence Forces have frowned against charges on recruitment of personnel into any of the arms of the Kenyan military. The Force went further to map out a strong punishment for any military personnel involved in such activities and the applicant giving in to such corrupt act. The recruitment into any category of the Kenya Defence Force is totally free of any charge. Anyone extorting applicants should be ready to face imprisonment, alongside the applicant engaging in such activities.

Online Application Of The KDA Recruitment

The recruitment exercise of the Kenya Defence Force is not directly done online. It only requires applicants to prepare a written document and attach all the necessary qualifications and send it to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Defence Forces for assessments. Then the applicant will be invited to the recruitment center, on reaching the required standards of the Kenya Defence Force. There is no provided portal for KDF recruitment form filling and submission.

For further inquiries contact the Kenya Defence Force through the address below:

Ministry of Defence
Ulinzi House, Lenana Road
P.O Box 40668_00100 Nairobi
Tel No. 2712054
Fax No. 2722270

Email: [email protected]

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