The Vice Chief of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Lieutenant General Jonah Mwangi opened up about the kind of people who will be locked out of the forthcoming military recruitment exercise.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Wednesday night August 16, 2023, Mwangi
KDF Vice Chief said stammering, tattoos, teeth discolouration are among the things that get people disqualified during military recruitment exercises.
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"People who stammer they don't do it out of own volution but again it is competitive. This is a career it's not a job like any other, it requires very good communication. If that is not manageable, I mean if the stammering is such that it cannot be managed then that means I have to instruct you to do something then I think you know how to be a good communicator with all due respect," he said.
On matters of tattoos, Lt Mwangi noted that character is one thing that the disciplined forces cannot afford not to have.
"Recruitment policy says that you are not supposed to join with a tattoo. You are not going to be recruited if you are wearing a tattoo," he said.
The KDF Vice Chief noted that people with mild teeth discolouration could be allowed into the force.
"We realized that there are areas in this country where you have water that has fluoride content and therefore you will have people that have low to medium teeth discolouration. There are those that are severe. From low to medium I think that can be looked at so that the medics would be able to say whether or not you are predisposed to any injury," he said.
Mwangi however stressed that people with severe discolouration could not be hired by KDF because of underlying health conditions.
"But If you have severe discolouration, it is an indication that you probably have a problem with the bone structure and you are prone to accidents. There are dental accidents that you will be prone to. If you get into accidents that will force us to put you to hospital instead of training. So it is a disadvantage to you and our people will tell you, In fact, they do not just chase you away from the field they will tell you we are not recruiting you because of A, B, C," he said.
Recruitment exercise
KDF is set to recruit Cadets between August and September 2023.
The Kenyan military warned people against fraudsters ahead of the recruitment exercise.
"The Ministry of Defence will recruit KDF Cadets/Recruits between Aug & Sept 2023. Do not buy calling letters from anyone. Recruitment is FREE of charge. Report Fraud to 0726419706/0726419709," KDF announced on August 12, 2023.
"The Ministry of Defence will recruit KDF Cadets/Recruits between Aug & Sept 2023. Do not buy calling letters from anyone. Recruitment is FREE of charge. Report Fraud to 0726419706/0726419709"— Kenya Defence Forces (@kdfinfo) August 12, 2023
