This year’s Kenya Defence Forces recruitment exercise in Mandera County has not attracted a single woman, officials say.
The exercise that took place at Moi stadium on Tuesday is said to have recorded low turnout compared to other parts of the country where future soldiers showed up in their thousands.
Despite the absence of girls from participating, KDF said exercise was voluntary and encouraged the locals to try their luck every time there is a recruitment exercise saying KDF is an equal employer and focuses on the safety of their employees.
According to the recruiting officer in charge Lt Col. Noor, the absence of girls could be attributed to the community’s culture and traditions where women are restricted to household chores.
Speaking as he launched the exercise at the Defence Headquarters in Nairobi, the VCDF said the nationwide recruitment drive shall take place in all 327 gazetted sub-counties across the 47 counties in the next two weeks.
“The KDF recruitment exercise is necessitated by the need to address shortfalls and increasing demand for specialized skills consistent with the technological advancement within the Force. Additionally, it is warranted by a steady increase in the number of KDF establishments, national requirements and natural attribution,” said Lt Gen Mghalu.
