KDF announces nationwide October recruitment drive targeting general service officer cadets, specialist officers and tradesmen

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has officially announced its highly anticipated recruitment drive set for October 2025, inviting qualified Kenyans to apply for positions across various categories.

In a notice, KDF said the nationwide exercise will cover General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets, both regular and graduate, Specialist Officers, General Duty Recruits, Tradesmen and Women, as well as Defence Forces Constables. The military said the month-long exercise will be held in counties across the country to give all eligible candidates an opportunity to serve.

“The Kenya Defence Force (KDF) is pleased to announce to the public the recruitment of General Service Officer Cadet Regular, General Service Officer Cadet Graduate, Specialist Officers, General Duty Recruits, Tradesmen and Women and Defence Forces Constables. The recruitment will take place in October 2025,” reads the notice.

KDF emphasised that the process will be open, competitive and corruption-free.

“The Kenya Defence Forces recruitment drive is free and open to all eligible and qualified candidates. Engaging in bribery or any other form of corruption with the intent to influence the recruitment process is a criminal offense. Any individual found to be involved in recruitment-related malpractice will be arrested and prosecuted,” the ministry warned.

Members of the public were urged to report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or military camp, or through the hotline numbers 0726419706 and 0726419709.

According to KDF, candidates must be Kenyan citizens, holders of valid national identity cards and free of criminal records. They are required to present original documents, alongside four copies of their ID cards, KRA PIN certificates and academic credentials.

Applicants for GSO Cadets and General Duty Recruits must be aged between 18 and 26 years, Specialist Officers and Tradesmen/Women should not be older than 30, while Chaplains and Imams must be below 39 years.

Retired service members applying for constable positions must fall within the ages of 30 and 55, while retired National Youth Service personnel are expected to be between 35 and 45 years old, with both categories required to have discharge certificates showing a minimum “Good” rating in conduct.

The physical requirements include a minimum height of 1.60 metres for men and 1.52 metres for women, with minimum weights of 54.55 kilogrammes and 50 kilogrammes respectively. Body Mass Index must remain below 30, and female candidates must not be pregnant at the time of recruitment or during training.

“All applicants will undergo medical examinations according to KDF standards,” reads the notice.

Academic qualifications are tailored to each category. GSO Cadets (Regular) must have attained a KCSE mean grade of B plain with at least C+ in English, Mathematics and one science subject. Their training will take three years, culminating in a Bachelor of Science degree in Defence and Security Studies.

Graduate Cadets must meet the same KCSE requirements and possess a university degree in specified disciplines, undergoing a 15-month training programme. Specialist Officers must also hold degrees and relevant professional registrations, with a six-month training period, except for Chaplains and Imams, who will be required to meet theological qualifications.

General Duty Recruits must hold a KCSE mean grade of D plain, with graduates of the National Youth Service who meet other conditions given priority. Tradesmen and Women require either a diploma or certificate in technical or professional fields ranging from engineering and ICT to medicine, finance, teaching, music, catering and artisan work. Constable positions are reserved for retired KDF or NYS personnel meeting service and conduct standards.

KDF confirmed that applications for GSO Cadets, Specialist Officers and Tradesmen/Women must be submitted online via the portal https://recruit.mod.go.ke by October 12, 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be notified through print media between October 21 and October 24, and all applications will be received online.

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Recruitment for General Duty Recruits and Defence Forces Constables will be conducted physically at designated county centres between October 13 and October 25, with the exercise scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Mombasa, Baringo, Bungoma, Busia, Elgeyo/Marakwet, Homa Bay, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Kitui, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Mandera, Marsabit, Meru, Migori and Murang’a.

For the first time, applications for police recruits will be processed exclusively through the National Police Service Commission’s official portal, a reform aimed at locking out brokers and ensuring only genuine applicants are considered.

The Interior Ministry said further measures had been introduced to make the recruitment transparent, including a requirement that all activities end by 4:00 pm. Successful candidates will be announced immediately, while medical examinations will be conducted at police training schools rather than at local centres.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen urged applicants not to offer or accept bribes, warning that the process will be closely monitored by independent observers.

“These reforms are meant to assure Kenyans that recruitment will be transparent. No one should pay a bribe. Anyone found engaging in corruption will face the law,” he said, adding that religious leaders and community representatives will also oversee the process to ensure fairness.