MPs vow to censure Defence CS Soipan Tuya over Nairobi KDF recruitment centres

Defence CS Soipan Tuya when she appeared before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations on August 12, 2025. (Photo: KDF)

By Lucy Mumbi
Wednesday, September 24, 2025

In a communiqué dated September 16, 18 MPs representing constituencies in Nairobi argued that the exercise contravened constitutional principles of fairness and non-discrimination.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya now risks a censure motion in Parliament, with Nairobi legislators vowing to block the nationwide Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment over what they term discrimination against the city’s youth.

In a statement on Wednesday, the legislators asked Tuya to review the schedule and ensure all of Nairobi’s 17 constituencies are fairly represented.

More To Read

Led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, the MPs accused the ministry of sidelining Nairobi residents after the city was allocated only three recruitment centres for the October exercise.

“What we are saying to the CS is we are going to censure her. We wrote to her, she has not responded, and we want her to tell us what this discrimination against Nairobi is,” they said.

The MPs further threatened to halt the exercise across the country unless Nairobi is treated like the other 46 counties.

“If this does not change, we will stop the recruitment of KDF officers in the entire country unless Nairobi is treated in the same manner as the other 46 counties,” they warned.

In a communiqué dated September 16, 18 MPs representing constituencies in Nairobi argued that the exercise contravened constitutional principles of fairness and non-discrimination.

The letter, submitted by Embakasi West MP and National Assembly Minority Whip Mark Mwenje and signed by 17 others, described the schedule as “skewed against Nairobi County,” noting that despite its large population, the city had been allocated fewer centres.

According to the itinerary released by the ministry, Nyayo Stadium will serve recruits from Embakasi East, Embakasi West, Embakasi North, Embakasi South, Kamukunji, Makadara, and Starehe constituencies.

Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani will handle Kasarani, Ruaraka, Mathare, and Roysambu constituencies, while Jamhuri Grounds will serve Dagoretti North, Dagoretti South, Lang’ata, Kibra and Westlands constituencies.

The legislators argued that this consolidation presents a logistical nightmare, unlike other counties where each sub-county has its own centre.

“This consolidation of recruitment centres for over a dozen constituencies presents a logistical nightmare and stands in stark contrast to other counties, where recruitment centres are designated at the sub-county level, reflecting a more decentralised and equitable approach,” reads the statement.

Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje warned that failure to decentralise the exercise could force the leaders to seek legal redress. Dagoretti North MP Beatrice Elachi decried what she termed a history of discrimination against Nairobi, urging all government agencies to operationalise their services in all 17 sub-counties.

Senator Sifuna echoed the sentiments, stressing that Nairobi hosts the country’s largest youth population and that recruitment provides crucial employment opportunities which should not be denied.

The MPs have now demanded an immediate review of the recruitment centres and called for affirmative action to address disparities. They said they expect a formal response from the Defence ministry within seven days, failing which they would take “immediate and decisive action.”