A 22-year-old student from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) tragically died on Wednesday after collapsing during a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment exercise in Chwele, Bungoma County.
According to Bungoma Central Sub-County Police Commander David Saina, the young man collapsed during the physical fitness test and was rushed to Chwele Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
“The recruit fainted during the physical exercise stage and was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital at about noon. His body has been taken to the Bungoma Referral Hospital mortuary,” said Saina.
The deceased’s identity has not yet been made public as authorities continue to notify the family.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Eliud Yegon, who is overseeing the ongoing recruitment in the region, noted that several youths experienced challenges during the verification stage due to inconsistencies in their documents.
“We have several cases where the recruits’ names as per their birth certificates do not match what appears on their academic certificates,” Lt. Col. Yegon explained.
He also took the opportunity to urge young Kenyans aspiring to join the military to maintain discipline, avoid drug use, and adequately prepare themselves physically and mentally before attending recruitment exercises.
The KDF recruitment exercise, which runs throughout October, aims to fill several positions, including General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets, Specialist Officers, Tradesmen and Tradeswomen, as well as other specialized roles in Education, Engineering, ICT, Mass Communication, Legal, and Supply Chain Management.
The incident has cast a somber mood over Bungoma County and raised concerns about the strenuous nature of military fitness assessments. Authorities have launched investigations into the student’s death as the recruitment exercise continues across the country.
