Masinde Muliro University Student Dies During KDF Recruitment

A 22-year-old student from Masinde Muliro University tragically died on Wednesday after collapsing during a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment exercise in Chwele, Bungoma County.

Bungoma Central Sub-County Police Commander David Saina confirmed the incident, stating that the young man fainted during the physical fitness stage and was rushed to Chwele Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. “The recruit fainted during the physical exercise stage and was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital at about noon. His body has been taken to the Bungoma Referral Hospital mortuary,” Saina said.

Lieutenant Colonel Eliud Yegon, who is overseeing the KDF recruitment process in the region, expressed concern over the number of applicants facing document verification challenges. “We have several cases where the recruits’ names per their birth certificates do not match what is on their academic certificates,” he said.

Yegon also advised young people interested in joining the military to maintain a healthy lifestyle and stay away from drugs. He emphasized that physical and mental readiness are key to successfully passing the demanding recruitment process.

The ongoing nationwide KDF recruitment exercise, scheduled throughout October, aims to fill positions for General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets, Specialist Officers, Tradesmen and Tradeswomen, as well as other technical and professional roles in areas such as Education, Engineering, ICT, Legal Services, Mass Communication, and Supply Chain Management.

The tragic incident has cast a shadow over the exercise in Bungoma, with residents and fellow recruits mourning the loss of a young life cut short in the pursuit of national service.

By Modester Nasimiyu