Joining the military is a dream for many Kenyan youths. Unfortunately for them, that remains just a dream due to the stringent requirements.
For Turkana County however, the regulations were to high for the majority of the youth as many were turned away. Most of them suffer from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). Being one of the most remote counties, you will wonder where they are contracting it from.
KDF’s Lieutenant Colonel Paul Aruasa who was overseeing the exercise at Lodwar prison playing ground regretted only nine recruits managed to be enlisted despite thousands turning up.
“It is alarming because majority of the youths failed medical test with STIs being prevalent disease among the youths who wanted to join KDF,” said Lt col Aruasa while addressing the press after the conclusion for the recruitment exercise for Turkana Central Sub County.
He also said others were disqualified for being underweight especially male candidates.
Lt. Col. Aruasa said that some could not meet the required weight of 54.5 kg for male. “Despite given the leeway to recruit as many as possible, getting the numbers has been an arduous task because of the medical condition. The harsh environment and the pastoral nature of the vast Turkana County was a major factor,” said the KDF official.
He said the environment stresses the bodies; “We had a doctor with responsibility to carry out an ethically driven and an independent medical examination during the exercise, but the results disqualified most of the youths.”
He revealed that at Kakuma they did not also get the targeted number despite residents turning up in good numbers. He retaliated that they were not also able to get constables from former KDF officers and former national youth service due to indiscipline issues and age issues respectively.