Specialist Officers: Engineers at Kenya Defence Forces

Prospective candidates willing to join the Kenya Defence Forces MUST meet the following conditions and academic qualifications:

 General Conditions

• Be a Kenyan citizen.
• Be a holder of a valid Kenyan National Identity (ID) Card.

Additionally, candidates are required to bring their original documents together with four (4) copies of their National ID Card, KRA PIN Certificate and Academic Certificates.

• Be within the following age brackets:
  • Between 18 and 26 years for GSO Cadets (Regular and Graduates) and General Duty Recruits.
  • Not above 30 years of age for Specialist Officers and Tradesmen/women.
  • Not above 39 years of age for Chaplains/Imams.

Have no criminal record.
Candidates must meet the following minimum physical requirements:

• Minimum Height:
  • Men 1.60m (5ft 3in).
  • Women 1.52m (5ft).
• Minimum Weight:
  • Men 54.55 kg (120 lb).
  • Women 50.00 Kg (110 lb).
• Body Mass Index (BMI) MUST be below 30.
• Female candidates must NOT be pregnant at the time of recruitment and during the entire duration of training.

Medical. Candidates must be medically fit as per the KDF standards.
Specialist Officers and Tradesmen/women. Should have a minimum of two (2) years practising experience in their field of specialization from the date of registration with the relevant regulatory/statutory body in Kenya. The selected potential candidates in every category will undergo final verification at designated KDF training institutions.

Minimum Academic Qualifications

• General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets - Regular. Must hold a minimum mean grade of B (Plain) in KCSE with C+ (Plus) in English, Mathematics and one (1) Science subject. The training period for this category will cover three (3) years leading to a BSc degree in Defence and Security Studies upon completion.
• General Service Officer (GSO) Cadet - Graduate. Must hold the minimum requirement to qualify as GSO Cadet - Regular specified in Para 3.b.(1) above and be a Bachelor’s degree holder from a recognized University/Institution in any of the disciplines specified under the vacancies
• listed in Para 4.b. The training period for this category will be fifteen (15) months.
• Specialist Officers. Must hold the minimum requirement to qualify as GSO Cadet - Regular specified in Para 3.b.(1), be a Bachelor’s degree holder from a recognized University/Institution and be registered with a regulatory/ statutory body where applicable in any of the disciplines specified under the vacancies listed in Para 4.c. Exemptions are for Chaplains/Imams who must hold a minimum mean grade of C+ (Plus) in
• KCSE and meet the qualifications specified in Para 4.c.(1). The training period for Specialist Officers will be six (6) months.
• Service Members (General Duty) Recruits. Must hold a minimum mean grade of D (Plain) in KCSE. Candidates who have successfully undergone NYS training and meet the general conditions in Para 3.a will have an added advantage
• Tradesmen/women. Prospective candidates must satisfy the conditions and requirements given below:
  • Diploma. A minimum mean grade of C (Plain) in KCSE, a relevant Diploma or above from a recognized institution and be registered with the relevant statutory bodies, where applicable.
  • Certificate. A minimum mean grade of D+ (Plus) in KCSE and either a relevant Certificate with Government Trade Test Grade II or Craft II from a recognized institution.
• Constables. Candidates must be a retired KDF Service Member or a retired National Youth Serviceman/woman with the following requirements:
• Retired KDF Service Member. Be between the ages of 30 and 55 years old, possess a Discharge Certificate with a minimum rating of “Good” in conduct, must have served for nine (9) years Color Service and retired honorably from KDF.
• Retired NYS Serviceman/woman. Be between the ages of 35 and 45 years old, possess a Discharge Certificate with a minimum rating of “Good” in conduct.

All interested candidates in the categories specified in Para 4 (General Service Officer Cadets (Regular and Graduates), Specialist Officers and Tradesmen/women) MUST APPLY ONLINE. Visit: https://recruit.mod.go.ke to submit your application. The deadline for applications is 12 th October 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be notified through the print media between 21st and 24th October 2025. NOTE: All applications will be received online

General Duty Recruits and Defence Forces Constables. The KDF Recruiting Teams consisting of the Kenya Army, the Kenya Air Force and the Kenya Navy will recruit General Duty Recruits and Defence Forces Constables at the designated Recruitment Centres according to the itinerary indicated below: