KDF should revise its recruitment policy

Ms. Gladys Jepkechei Tarus displays a medical report confirming that she was not pregnant. KDF should revise its recruitment policy

While the Kenya Defense Forces, KDF, received scathing attacks over its Westgate performance, something else passed unnoticed. Ms. Gladys Jepkechei Tarus attempted to join the military in vain, for the third time. Combined, these recent developments justify the need for KDF to revise its recruitment policy. 

Gladys Tarus has been attempting to join KDF since 2010. She did. Only to be ejected from the Recruit Training School RTS and sent to her parent’s Baringo Central home. Scores rubbished as unfounded claims by KDF that Gladys, failed a pregnancy test. Legislators faulted this move by KDF to terminate the dreams of Ms. Tarus. 

Undeterred, Gladys went ahead and attempted her luck with the military in 2011. She was not picked. In 2012, she tried her luck with Kenya Wildlife Service, and failed. KDF claimed that the 23-year-old Gladys did not meet the academic requirement to join the army when they dismissed her attempt on Monday, 14 October 2013. 

It does not take a pundit to wonder how in 2010, Ms. Tarus sailed all through to the RTS. Besides, the contradiction on the medical report that KDF claimed that Tarus was pregnant and several independent tests ordered by legislators was suspicious. Then in 2013, the same academic results that earned Ms. Tarus admission at the RTS soon became inadequate. 

Scores of young Kenyans go through these ordeals every time KDF runs recruitment drives. Youths who are passionate about defending their country by enlisting in the army end up disillusioned when they mysteriously miss these opportunities. Stories are told in hushed tones of how relatives of senior government and military officials easily acquire positions in KDF. 

Sons and daughters of influential people, the stories go, do not even participate in tedious field events during the recruitment drive. Instead, they appear during the final phase of the recruitment drive where selected candidates are certified to join RTS. Once there, this caliber of recruits, according to stories, is very lazy and uncooperative. Oftentimes, they sneak out of RTS, KDF. For good. 

Perhaps this hints on the lacklustre performance of KDF. After Al-Shabaab attacked Nairobi’s Westgate Shopping Mall, KDF has been fighting intense imbroglio. KDF’s lack of strategy for combating the terrorists, looting, and possible killing of elite General Service Unit official, fly in the face of basic expectations on the military. 

The case of Gladys Tarus and KDF’s inertia explains this complacency. 

With all honesty, I am ignorant on military science. I learnt about FIBUA, military jargon for indoor fighting, not so long ago when Roy Gachuhi interviewed Lieutenant-General (rtd) Humphrey Njoroge. Nevertheless, I know everything about organizational behavior.

Passionate employees are highly productive. Having passionate employees on board requires fewer resources in management. When employers call for job seekers who can work under minimum supervision, they have in mind passionate employees. Importantly, passionate employees are innovative. 

In the military, innovation is critical. Although lower cadre soldiers are not involved in making strategic decisions, they need to be innovative. An innovative soldier stands high chances of enabling the success of the larger unit for instance during phalanx formation. Tarus exudes determination that yields and sustains this passion.  

Concentrating on endurance alone may not provide KDF with dedicated employees. Instead, going for candidates like Gladys Tarus who has towered high in temerity even when rejected thrice, can. Potential candidates chicken out when they learn that they are supposed to part with 150 000 Shillings payable to the District Officer, to secure a chance in the forces.  

Perhaps KDF recruitment policy does not give room for a candidate who does not oil the recruitment system. And threatens to embarrass the military top brass by earning the sympathy of the media, politicians and human rights defenders.  Perhaps for these reasons, Gladys Tarus will never get a chance to pursue her dream career in the military.