The recently concluded Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment in Lamu witnessed lots of drama. Several youths were barred from listing for drug abuse.
A KDF insider told the Daily Nation that, although the military typically looks for physically fit candidates during recruitment, this year, many Lamu youth displayed exceptional fitness, especially during the initial running stages.
The observations prompted KDF officials overseeing the recruitment to suspect that some of the youth could have been under the influence of drugs or other substances.
“We normally look for physically fit recruits. That’s why we introduce them to the races during the initial stages. But when you see someone running extremely fast, completing the races within a short period, after which they start sweating profusely and even fainting, then you know something is already amiss,” said the officer.
“How can someone run only for ten minutes, then they sweat and faint? This gave us a hint of what these youths had consumed before turning up for recruitment,” he added.
This year, the KDF field recruitment in all three centres across Lamu, that is, Kibaki Grounds in Lamu Central, Mpeketoni Tiger Grounds in Lamu West and the Faza Grounds in Lamu East Sub-Counties, witnessed an impressive turnout.
Senior KDF Recruiting Officer Eliud Nangole during the 2025 Lamu recruitment at the Kibaki Grounds on October 13,2025.
Photo credit: Kalume Kazungu | Nation Media Group
However, only 19 candidates were selected to join KDF from Lamu County. They included four (4) from Lamu Central, six (6) from Lamu West and nine (9) from Lamu East Sub-Counties.
Daily Nation established that dozens of the hopefuls who turned up for the three-day exercise were disqualified for bhang abuse.
“I knew I was going to make it in this year’s recruitment drive. I passed almost all the stages, only for me to be told I couldn’t be selected since my urine was dirty. How do they expect me to have either dirty or clean urine, surely, yet they know this is something purely controlled by nature? It’s discouraging,” said Ali Abdallah at the Kibaki Grounds recruitment centre.
In a statement shortly after completion of the Lamu Field Recruitment Exercise, Senior Medical Officer Lieutenant Colonel Edward Wasike said that several applicants were eliminated due to varied medical challenges, including drug abuse.
Mandatory medical and laboratory tests revealed traces of illegal drugs in many of the applicants’ blood samples or systems, leading to their automatic disqualification.
Lt. Col Wasike observed that despite recruits having passed almost all the required stages, many ended up getting rejected, especially after toxicological tests.
“Most of the recruits had good academic qualifications, were physically fit, only for them to fail at the medical examination stage. Drug abuse continues to undermine the potential of otherwise capable candidates,” said Mr Wasike.
He emphasised the need for community-driven interventions, awareness campaigns, and mentorship programmes to help address the concerns and guide the youth towards healthier, more productive paths.
In Lamu, the KDF recruitment team started its field recruitment exercise on Monday, October 13 and concluded it on Wednesday, October 15.
The exercise was supervised by Senior KDF Recruiting Officer, Lt Col Eliud Nangole.
“Potential candidates underwent a series of assessment stages, including scrutiny and identifying academic documents, physical fitness evaluations, medical examinations, and structured interviews to determine their suitability for service,” said Mr Nangole.
Young men and women who had turned up for the KDF recruitment drive at the Kibaki Grounds in Lamu Central on Monday, October 13,2025.
Photo credit: Kalume Kazungu | Nation Media Group
He commended the candidates for their discipline and determination, noting that the turnout reflected the growing enthusiasm of the youth to serve their country.
Mr Juma Mwamvyoga, the addiction counsellor at the Lamu Medically Assisted Therapy (MAT) Clinic, raised concerns over the increased drug abuse among youth.
“It is sad to see youths being denied job opportunities due to drug addiction. The society should come together and find ways of effectively dealing with the issue of drugs,” said Mr Mwamvyoga.
Lamu Women Alliance (LAWA) Executive Director Raya Famau expressed disappointment that, despite the region having already been given limited vacancies for the local youth to join the KDF, they still cannot fill them owing to bhang use.
“I advise our youths to desist from any drugs and substance abuse. We can’t keep on missing rare life opportunities like joining the KDF just because of drugs,” said Ms Famau.
Local administrators commended the KDF for their unwavering dedication to maintaining standards of professionalism and integrity in its enlistment process.
Lamu’s Kiunga Location Retired Senior Chief Mohamed Atik, however, stressed the need for regional balance during KDF recruitment drives.
“I am happy that a number of Lamu youths were enrolled in the KDF this year. But I don’t agree with the idea of locking out promising candidates because they, at one time, smoked bhang. The youths should be recruited and rehabilitated as they serve the nation. The issue of drugs and substance abuse is a national problem and not just for Lamu,” said Mr Atik.
He added, “Locking such youths out might subject them to more frustrations, thereby causing them to join criminal gangs.”
The KDF launched nationwide recruitment for various roles, including General Service Officer Cadets-both Regular and Graduate-Specialist Officers, and tradesmen and women on October 13, 2025.
The two-week exercise officially concluded on October 25, 2025, in all the country’s 47 counties.
So far, the KDF has already released the shortlist of more than 3,000 successful applicants.
Young men and women who had turned up for the KDF recruitment drive at the Kibaki Grounds in Lamu Central on October 13,2025.
Photo credit: Kalume Kazungu | Nation Media Group
The shortlisted candidates are required to report for interviews and selection from November 3 to December 8, 2025, at designated venues across the country.
Tradesmen and women will report to Ulinzi Sports Complex in Langata, Nairobi, on Monday, November 3,2025, at 8am.
Specialist Officers are expected at the Kenya Military Academy in Lanet, Nakuru, on Monday, December 8,2025, while GSO Cadets (Graduate) will report to the same venue on Monday, November 24, 2025.
GSO Cadets (Regular) are scheduled to report on Monday, December 1, 2025, also at the Kenya Military Academy.
