1. Recruitment Announcement
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) is pleased to announce to the public the upcoming recruitment of General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets (Regular and Graduates), Specialist Officers, General Duty Recruits, and Tradesmen/Women, scheduled to take place in December 2026.
2. Important Warning on Recruitment Fraud and Corruption
The Kenya Defence Forces recruitment exercise is FREE and OPEN to all eligible and qualified candidates.
Engaging in bribery or any other form of corruption with the intention of influencing the recruitment process is a criminal offence.
Any individual found to be involved in recruitment-related malpractice will be arrested and prosecuted.
Members of the public are urged to report any incidents of recruitment malpractice, including the issuance of calling letters, to the nearest Police Station or Military Camp.
Alternatively, such incidents may be reported through the dedicated hotline:
– Recruitment Hotline: 0183749488
3. Biometric Verification and Identification
The public and prospective candidates are hereby notified that biometric verification shall be the sole method of identification and verification during the recruitment exercise and upon reporting for training.
Accordingly, no calling letters shall be issued, either during recruitment or at the point of reporting for training.
4. General Conditions and Academic Qualifications
Prospective candidates wishing to join the Kenya Defence Forces MUST meet the following general conditions and academic qualifications.
A. General Conditions
1. Citizenship and Identification Requirements
All candidates must:
- Be Kenyan citizens.
- Hold a valid Kenyan National Identity (ID) Card.
- Present their original documents together with four (4) copies of their National ID Card, KRA PIN Certificate, and Academic Certificates.
2. Age Requirements
Candidates must fall within the following age brackets, depending on the recruitment category:
| Recruitment Category | Age Requirement |
|---|---|
| Regular GSO Cadets | Between 18 and 23 years |
| Graduate GSO Cadets | Between 18 and 26 years |
| General Duty Recruits | Between 18 and 26 years |
| Tradesmen/Women | Between 18 and 26 years |
| Specialist Officers | Not above 30 years |
| Medical Consultants | Not above 35 years |
| Chaplains/Imams | Not above 39 years |
| Catechists/Maalims | Not above 35 years |
3. Criminal Record
All candidates must have no criminal record.
4. Minimum Physical Requirements
Candidates must meet the following minimum physical requirements.
a) Minimum Height
- Men: 1.60 metres (5 feet 3 inches).
- Women: 1.52 metres (5 feet).
b) Minimum Weight
- Men: 54.55 kg.
- Women: 50.00 kg.
c) Body Mass Index (BMI)
– Candidates must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) ranging between 18.5 and 30.0 kg/m².
d) Pregnancy Requirements
– Female candidates must NOT be pregnant at the time of recruitment or during the entire duration of training.
5. Medical Fitness
All candidates must be medically fit in accordance with the Kenya Defence Forces medical standards.
6. Professional Experience for Specialist Officers and Tradesmen/Women
Candidates applying for Specialist Officer and Tradesmen/Women positions must have a minimum of two (2) years of practising experience in their respective fields of specialization.
The required experience must be counted from the date of registration with the relevant regulatory or statutory body in Kenya.
7. Final Verification
Selected potential candidates in every recruitment category will undergo final verification at designated Kenya Defence Forces training institutions.
5. Online Application Procedure
All interested candidates applying under the following categories are required to submit their applications online:
- General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets – Regular.
- General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets – Graduates.
- Specialist Officers.
- Tradesmen/Women.
Applications must be submitted through the official Kenya Defence Forces recruitment portal:
Candidates requiring assistance with the online application process may contact the recruitment Help Desk through the following email address:
– Help Desk Email: [email protected]
Application Deadline
The deadline for submitting online applications is 12th December 2026.
Shortlisting and Notification of Candidates
Shortlisted candidates will be notified through the Ministry of Defence’s official website and print media between 21st and 25th December 2026.
Official Ministry of Defence Website:www.mod.go.ke
Important Note: All applications for GSO Cadets (Regular and Graduates), Specialist Officers, and Tradesmen/Women must be submitted online through the designated recruitment portal.
6. Recruitment of General Duty Recruits
The Kenya Defence Forces Recruiting Teams, comprising representatives from the Kenya Army, Kenya Air Force, and Kenya Navy, will conduct the recruitment of General Duty Recruits at designated recruitment centres.
The recruitment exercise will follow the official itinerary indicating the respective recruitment centres, dates, and locations.
Candidates interested in joining the Kenya Defence Forces as General Duty Recruits are advised to take note of the designated recruitment centres and the applicable recruitment schedule.
