The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has announced a nationwide recruitment exercise scheduled for December 2026, opening opportunities for General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets, Specialist Officers, General Duty Recruits, and Tradesmen and Women across all 47 counties.
In a public advertisement issued through the Ministry of Defence, the military confirmed that online applications for cadet, specialist and technical positions will close on December 12, 2026, while the physical recruitment of General Duty Recruits will take place from December 14 to December 28 at designated centres nationwide.
Announcing the exercise, the Ministry of Defence outlined the categories of applicants expected to participate in the recruitment drive.
“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 which is scheduled to take place in the month of December 2026,” the notice stated.
The recruitment drive targets candidates with different academic and professional qualifications. Regular GSO Cadet applicants must have a minimum KCSE mean grade of B (Plain), with at least C+ in English, Mathematics and one science subject. They must also be aged between 18 and 23.
Successful candidates in this category will undergo three years of training leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in Defence and Security Studies.
Graduate cadets and General Duty Recruits must not be older than 26 years. General Duty Recruits are required to have a minimum KCSE grade of D (Plain), while applicants who have completed National Youth Service training will have an added advantage.
Specialist Officer positions are open to professionals in fields including engineering, medicine, law, information and communications technology (ICT), and chaplaincy. Applicants must generally be aged 30 years or below, with exceptions for medical consultants and chaplains.
They must also have at least two years of practising experience after registration with their respective professional regulatory bodies.
The military has also outlined physical requirements for applicants. Male candidates must be at least 1.60 metres tall and weigh a minimum of 54.55 kilogrammes, while female applicants must measure at least 1.52 metres and weigh 50 kilogrammes.
Applicants must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of between 18.5 and 30.0. Female candidates must also not be pregnant during recruitment or training.
The Ministry of Defence has warned applicants against paying money to individuals claiming they can influence the recruitment process, emphasising that the exercise is free of charge.
Addressing concerns over possible fraud and attempts to manipulate the process, the Ministry cautioned that bribery and corruption were criminal offences.
“Members of the public have been urged to report suspected malpractice, including the issuance of calling letters, to the nearest police station or military camp,” the Ministry stated, providing a dedicated hotline, 0183749488, for reporting suspected cases.
The military also announced changes to its identification procedures, saying biometric verification would be the sole method of identification during recruitment and training. As a result, no calling letters would be issued at any stage of the exercise.
The warning came amid previous cases of fraud involving individuals who have exploited job seekers by falsely promising them employment opportunities in the military.
In October 2026, the KDF issued a clarification distancing itself from fake recruitment notices circulating on social media, reiterating that vacancies were announced through mainstream media and official government portals.
In July 2026, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations arrested a suspect accused of orchestrating an employment scam that allegedly defrauded job seekers of more than Ksh8.6 million through false promises of securing positions in the KDF, National Police Service and Public Service Commission.
Earlier, in February 2026, a police recruit constable was arrested for allegedly obtaining Ksh687,000 from a member of the public through false promises of securing KDF employment letters.
The December 2026 exercise follows the KDF’s previous nationwide recruitment conducted between October 13 and October 25, 2025, which targeted cadets, specialists and General Duty Recruits.
Prospective candidates seeking positions as GSO Cadets, Specialist Officers and Tradesmen and Women must submit their applications exclusively through the official Ministry of Defence recruitment portal, recruit.mod.go.ke.
The Ministry indicated that shortlisted candidates would be notified through its website and print media between December 21 and December 25, 2026.
Applicants seeking General Duty Recruit positions are required to present themselves in person at their designated county recruitment centres with original documents and four copies each of their National Identity Cards, KRA PIN certificates and academic certificates.
