The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has raised concern over increasing cases of drug abuse among young people in Lamu County following the just-concluded recruitment exercise.
In a statement on Tuesday, October 21, Senior Medical Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Wasike, said substance abuse remains one of the key factors disqualifying otherwise capable candidates from joining the military.
"The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment team concluded its field recruitment exercise in Lamu County, covering Mpeketoni, Lamu Central, and Faza recruitment centres.
"Speaking during the exercise, the senior medical officer Lieutenant Colonel Wasike observed that a number of young applicants were eliminated due to varied medical challenges," the statement read.
As such, Wasike called for the need of community-driven interventions and awareness campaigns to address drug abuse challenges.
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"They emphasized the need for community-driven interventions, awareness campaigns, and mentorship programs to help address this concern and guide the youth toward healthier, more productive paths," the statement added.
The recruitment drive is expected to end on Saturday, October 25.
Speaking at Defence Headquarters on Tuesday, October 14, Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya reiterated the government’s stance against corruption, vowing that no form of malpractice will be tolerated during the exercise.
Tuya said her ministry is working closely with top investigative and oversight agencies to ensure the process remains credible.
"The Defence Ministry is collaborating with the National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and the National Intelligence Service to safeguard the integrity of the exercise," she stated.
Tuya noted that the recruitment drive is not merely about filling vacancies within the military but about identifying individuals with the commitment to serve.
"This process is not just about filling positions. It’s about finding disciplined, patriotic young Kenyans ready to serve their country with courage and commitment," she added.
Acknowledging that past recruitment drives have occasionally faced allegations of irregularities, Tuya said that investigations in such cases had led to arrests and disciplinary actions where wrongdoing was confirmed.
However, she clarified that most of the reported incidents were linked to fraudsters posing as military officers.
"The recruitment exercise will strictly follow the Constitution, guaranteeing fairness, inclusivity, and representation from all 47 counties," she further said.
