Nairobi MPs sue to halt KDF recruitment over merged centres, cite discrimination

Nairobi Members of Parliament have moved to court to stop the upcoming Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment exercise, accusing the Defence Ministry of discrimination after merging all 17 constituencies into only three recruitment zones for the October exercise.

The legislators have sued Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru and Attorney General Dorcas Oduor, arguing that the move violates constitutional principles of fairness and equal access.

At least 17 MPs from Nairobi, alongside Senator Edwin Sifuna and Woman Representative Esther Passaris, want the recruitment conducted in each of the city’s 17 sub-counties, as is done in other counties. They contend that lumping constituencies together disadvantages many qualified residents who may not afford or manage to travel to distant venues.

In his affidavit, Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje faulted the consolidation of the recruitment centres to Nyayo Stadium, Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani and Jamhuri Grounds, describing the move as inequitable and discriminatory.

“The consolidation of Nairobi recruitment centres presents an unconstitutional barrier to access, as many qualified Nairobi residents will be unable to participate meaningfully in the recruitment exercise,” Mwenje said.

High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi directed the MPs to serve the three respondents ahead of the hearing of the matter.

The MPs had recently asked CS Tuya to review the recruitment schedule to ensure all 17 constituencies are fairly represented. They accused the ministry of sidelining Nairobi despite its large population and contribution to the national economy.

“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 legislators further warned that they would move to halt the recruitment exercise countrywide unless Nairobi is treated on an equal footing with 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, 2025, the MPs wrote to the Defence ministry protesting the plan, saying it contravened constitutional principles of fairness and non-discrimination.

They described the recruitment schedule as “skewed against Nairobi County,” noting that despite hosting the country’s largest youth population, the city had been allocated fewer centres than other counties.

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 cater for Dagoretti North, Dagoretti South, Lang’ata, Kibra and Westlands constituencies.

The legislators said this consolidation creates unnecessary congestion and logistical difficulties that could lock out many deserving applicants.

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“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.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Defence Forces has warned of rising cases of fraudsters targeting the nationwide recruitment exercise.

In its weekly bulletin dated Friday, October 3, 2025, KDF said it had received multiple complaints through hotlines and social media platforms over individuals and groups posing as members of the forces and soliciting money from unsuspecting applicants with false promises to influence recruitment outcomes.

The Ministry reiterated that recruitment into the forces is strictly merit-based and free of charge, relying solely on qualifications and performance in the official selection stages.

It further noted that applications for General Service Officers (GSO), Specialist Officers and Tradesmen and women should only be submitted through the official recruitment portal.

“Anyone promising otherwise is a fraudster and should be reported immediately,” read the statement.

The nationwide recruitment drive targets both professionals and aspiring officers. The application window remains open until October 12, with shortlisted candidates set to be published in local dailies between October 21 and October 24.

Applicants are required to be Kenyan citizens with valid national identification cards, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) PIN certificates, and relevant academic qualifications. Age limits vary depending on the position: cadets and general duty officers must be between 18 and 28 years old, while constables must be between 30 and 55 years old.

KDF urged all applicants and the general public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals attempting to solicit money, warning that scams not only exploit citizens but also threaten national integrity and security.

“Recruitment into the forces is transparent and free of charge. Anyone claiming otherwise should be reported immediately,” KDF said.