Most of the candidates who turned up for Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) recruitment exercise in Machakos Sub County are underweight, says the officer in charge Lieutenant Cornel Boniface Chomba.
Chomba said the youths weigh less than that required for one to join the KDF.
He said health issues among a majority of the candidates equally made them unsuccessful in the recruitment exercise.
Chomba addressed the press shortly after concluding the exercise at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos town on Monday.
He, however, noted that they managed to recruit from the sub county their targeted number despite the challenge.
“Most of the candidates who turned up for the recruitment exercise in Machakos sub county failed to make it due to underweight, we managed to get our targeted number though,” Chomba said.
He declined to state the figure stating it was confidential. Chomba said those recruited included both male and female youths between ages 18 and 26 holding D plain and above in KCSE certificates.
He termed the exercise successful noting that the youths’ turnout was satisfactory.
He cautioned members of the public against falling in hands of conmen who extort them with false promises of helping them secure chances in the armed forces.
“The KDF recruitment should be free for all Kenyans, you should not attempt to bribe your way into military forces,” said Chomba.
Chomba further said they had sensitized the candidates against falling victims of conmen who take advantage of the ongoing national recruitment exercise.
He urged Kenyans to report suspected conmen engaging in such extortion at any police station or KDF offices across the country.