The Senate has summoned Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya to respond to explosive allegations of bribery in the ongoing Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment drive.
On Wednesday, October 1, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale claimed that desperate families were being forced to part with as much as Ksh400,000 to secure military slots. Speaking in the Senate, Khalwale recounted a distressing encounter with an elderly man in his county.
According to Khalwale, the man, who owned a bull worth Ksh250,000, sought his help to raise an additional Ksh150,000 to meet the alleged bribe price. “There is an old man in Kakamega who owns a bull worth Ksh250,000. He came to me and told me he had been offered a chance to buy a slot in the military for Ksh400,000,” Khalwale said.
The Senator questioned whether opportunities in the KDF were genuinely based on merit, calling for immediate clarification from the Ministry of Defence.
Khalwale’s sentiments were echoed by several lawmakers, including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who condemned CS Tuya’s failure to appear before the House. Senators accused the Defence CS of deliberately avoiding accountability after skipping three scheduled appearances.
Following Wednesday’s heated session, the Senate resolved to summon Tuya once again, this time in Busia County, to provide clarity on the recruitment process.
Meanwhile, the KDF has maintained that the exercise is transparent, fair, and free of charge, urging applicants to avoid falling prey to fraudsters. Positions currently open include General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets, Specialist Officers, General Duty Recruits, Tradesmen and Women, and Defence Forces Constables.
Academic requirements for the GSO Cadets include a KCSE mean grade of B (Plain) with at least a C+ in English, Mathematics, and one science subject. Graduate cadets and specialist officers must also present professional qualifications and relevant degrees.
The unfolding saga has reignited debate over corruption in recruitment processes, with Senators insisting that accountability and fairness must be upheld in the country’s defence forces.
