THOUSANDS TURN UP FOR CLOSELY WATCHED POLICE RECRUITMENT

THOUSANDS TURN UP FOR CLOSELY WATCHED POLICE RECRUITMENT

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 20 – Thousands of youths across the country turned up for Monday’s police recruitment with hope of joining the 50,000 members of the National Police Service.

The participants were undertaken through a rigorous session to ensure the successful recruits are fit and prepared to protect the country.

The exercise in 294 centres across the country was closely monitored by security officers, right groups and National Police Service Commission officials and those from the Independent Policing Oversight Authority.

“They are being fair and unlike last time, you can notice the officers are very careful,” one of the observers who sought anonymity said.

“It’s about what you can do as an individual and not what you have given.”

Another one said, “This time I am optimistic that we are going to get the right people joining the service. If we start on the wrong path, we will never defeat terrorists.”

Human rights groups gave special focus to 36 stations whose outcome in 2014 had been nullified by the National Police Service Commission.

Some of the centres include Tigoni East, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kangema, Kigumo, Narok, Kipkelion centre in Kericho County, Bomet centre in Bomet County and West Pokot.

Others include Meru County, Isiolo County, Mandera County, West Pokot County, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kericho County, Njoro police station in Nakuru County and Kakamega County.

A spot check by Capital FM News at CID training school established the exercise was going on without any hitches.

Senior officers were looking for recruits with specials skills ranging from sports talent and singing (to join the police band) besides other set conditions.

The Police Officer in charge of Sports Welfare Kiget Kipsang says only those who meet the minimum requirements will be considered in the fixed slots for each centre.

“We are considering officers who are talented… there is nothing to hide here,” he said.

To ensure transparency, he said they were working, “closely with observers from various places. Those who deserve will get it.”

The situation was the same at the National Youth Service Centre where thousands of youths participated in the recruitment.

Officers have been given directions to ensure the exercise is above board to avoid a repeat of the 2014 recruitment that was marred by massive irregularities.

“So far so good…those who did not have the right documents have left and they did not complain,” a senior officer overseeing the exercise at NYS said.

Candidates must be Kenyan citizens with a Kenyan National ID, have a minimum qualifications of D+ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination with a ‘D+’ (Plus) in either English or Kiswahili languages.

They should be physically and medically fit and should not have a criminal record or pending criminal charges.

Applicants should be aged between 18 and 28 years for holders of KCSE Examination Certificate or its equivalent, and up to 30 years for diploma and degree holders.

Female candidates must not be pregnant at recruitment and during the entire nine-month training period.

Special consideration has been given to Wajir South, Wajir North, Saku, Laisamis, Moyale, Turkana North and Isiolo North Constituencies, which have been granted two centres each, on account of the geographic expanse..

The exercise comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta directed the Inspector-General to expedite recruitment of the 10,000 officers after last year exercise was nullified by the High Court.