NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has assured young Kenyans that future recruitment into the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and National Police Service (NPS) will be fair, transparent, and locally conducted within each sub-county of Nairobi.
Speaking in Embakasi Central on Sunday, November 9, Gachagua claimed that recruitment into the uniformed services had been mismanaged by previous administrations, particularly disadvantaging youth from urban constituencies.
“I want to say that recruitment into the military and the police service will be undertaken in each sub-county. We don’t want our people to be told to go back to their native homes. My government will ensure that everyone is recruited fairly and transparently,” Gachagua said.
His remarks came after Nairobi Members of Parliament raised concerns over the September recruitment schedule, which clustered multiple constituencies into a few centralised venues such as Nyayo Stadium, Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, and Jamhuri Grounds.
The MPs argued that this approach discriminated against city residents, citing Articles 10 and 27 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality, fairness, and non-discrimination in public service opportunities.
They further noted that funnelling thousands of applicants into limited venues caused logistical challenges and compromised transparency, calling on the Ministry of Defence to revise the process to allow equitable access for Nairobi’s 17 constituencies.
Gachagua’s pledge has been welcomed by youth groups who say decentralising recruitment will enhance fairness and restore confidence in national recruitment exercises.
