A total of 105 candidates (93 civilians and 12 NYS), turned up for the ongoing recruitment into the National Police Service (NPS) during a thorough and vigorous recruitment exercise for Kisumu Central Sub-county held at the Kisumu Sports Complex, also known as Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Grounds on Monday.
However, after a day-long vigorous exercise only 19 youths were selected from the sub-county to join different formations of the NPS.
According to the Central Sub-county centre chairperson, Mr. Khamala Maende, 24 slots had been reserved for the sub-county, with 10 going to the National Youth Service (NYS) graduates with the remaining 14 going to the civilians.
“But out of 10 slots for NYS graduates, only five (5-one lady and four men) met the requirements for recruitment into the National Police Service (NPS),” Maende said.
It is worth noting that President William Ruto directed that out of the 10,000 to be recruited into the NPS nationwide, 4,000 slots are to be set aside for NYS graduates.
The recruits will then join various formations such as the regular police, General Service Unit (GSU) and Administration Police (AP) among others.
The applicants were required to be a citizen of Kenya who is a holder of Kenya National Identity Card (ID) and aged between 18 to 27 years and a maximum of 30 years old for the University graduates.
They were also required to have a minimum grade of D+ in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination (KCSE with minimum of D+ in English or Kiswahili), be physically and medically fit and a minimum height of 5feet and 8inches for males and 5ft 3in. for females. They are also required to have a minimum weight of 54.55 kilograms for men and 50 kilograms for women.
In addition to physical observation, a medical examination has to be carried out to evaluate heart function, respiratory health, blood pressure, and other essential health indicators, with female candidates undergoing a pregnancy test.
These checks help ensure that only individuals who are physically and medically fit proceed to the next stage of police recruitment.
The recruitment process included a detailed physical and medical examination to ensure that all candidates met the required health and fitness standards.
The assessment focused on observable features such as height, general appearance, physical disabilities, dental condition, eye alignment or defects, visible scars, hand and nail condition, ear and nose abnormalities, protruding veins, skin diseases, tattoos, and birthmarks. Candidates were also inspected for overall body cleanliness and any indications of past injuries or medical concerns.
According to Maende, out of the 12 NYS graduates who turned up, three fell short of the required D+ mean grade and two disqualified for age. The civilian group saw the highest number of eliminations.
Among those affected was Evans Owino Ochieng`, a former National Youth Service (NYS) graduate who had hoped to a successful day after meeting all physical and documentation requirements, including height and weight.
However, Ochieng` was disqualified on the basis of age, having turned older just three days before the recruitment date.
He arrived at the grounds at 8:00 a.m., confident that he met the age bracket he believed to be 30–35, only to face the unexpected revelation that the official limit was 28 years and below
“I thought I was eligible, especially as an NYS graduate. It is disappointing to miss out by just a few days,” he said, adding that he still encourages the youth to take advantage of such opportunities to secure employment.
Out of the 93 civilians, 38 were dropped during the academic verification stage for failing to meet the D+ minimum grade. This left 55 candidates, seven of whom were later disqualified during eye and height assessments, reducing the number of qualifying civilians to 46 who were then subjected to other tests.
“The turnout of male candidates was noticeably higher than that of females,” Maende added, noting that the recruitment process remained smooth and orderly throughout.
Last week, the high court lifted conservatory orders halting the planned recruitment of 10,000 police constables, following an application by Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja paving the way for the recruitment exercise.
This was after a two-year hiatus due to court duel pitting NPS and the Independent Policing Authority (IPOA). But last week, the Labour and Employment court in Nairobi ruled that it’s the NPS that is mandated by law to recruit police officers.
by Mabel Keya- Shikuku & Purity Gombe
