Kenya’s uniformed services have long battled a cloud of controversy whenever recruitment season comes around. And this season, it was no different.
Complaints often surface about fairness, with persistent allegations that success in joining the police, military, or prisons service sometimes depends more on the size of one’s bribe than the strength of one’s qualifications.
Claims of candidates paying up to KSh 500,000 to secure positions in the armed forces — and as much as KSh 300,000 to join the police — continue to circulate, despite official denials.
Ordinarily, recruits are required to meet strict standards, from minimum academic grades to a full set of 32 teeth and a specific height threshold. Those who fall short are usually eliminated at the first stage, long before the physical drills or medical exams begin.
Yet complaints have persisted that these rules can be bent for those who can pay their way through.
This week, the debate reignited after a video of a frustrated young man went viral during the nationwide police recruitment exercise. In the clip, the man laments being rejected because of his height, questioning why physical stature appears to outweigh competence.
“Mnaninyima kazi kwa sababu mimi ni mfupi? Watu wangapi wako na kazi na ni wafupi?” he asks, demanding to know whether height or ability is the true measure for entry.
He goes on to share that he has remained unemployed for eight years, despite completing training with the National Youth Service.
“Mlinyima kazi nikaenda NYS … sasa nimeenda NYS, bado mnaninyima kazi. Kwani mimi ndio sifai kwa kazi?” he says, his voice breaking with frustration before adding, “Kwani mimi sio mKenya?”
He explained that he came from a poor background and has completed various nation-building and ICT courses through NYS, yet still cannot secure a stable job.
“I have tried everything. Why is it that they are always denying me a job?” he says.
The senior officers running the exercise are heard asking him for his identification documents, probably to note the details. The senior officer then commands the other officers to escort the young man out of the grounds where the exercise was taking place.
Many people who saw the clip online shared varying opinions on the incident. Some felt that the criteria should have been observed to the letter while others felt sorry for the young man.
” I’ve said it before, but the way we recruit for Police and KDF is stupid, archaic and detrimental to patriotism. many passionate and talented people lose out to corruption and this stokes hate and apathy…” shared @maich on X.
The recruitment of 10,000 police constables took place nationwide on Monday, November 17, between 8am and 5pm, across 427 centres. Ahead of the exercise, the National Police Service urged all eligible Kenyan youth to participate freely, insisting the process would be transparent.
NPS reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on bribery and corruption, warning that anyone involved in illicit payments would face the full force of the law.
