KDF invites applications for October 2025 mass recruitment

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has announced its 2025 nationwide recruitment exercise, inviting skilled professionals and officers aspiring to serve in its ranks.

The 2025 intake includes openings for General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets, Specialist Officers, Tradesmen/women and other specialized roles in fields such as, Education, Engineering, ICT, Mass Communication, Legal and Supply Chain Management.

According to KDF, the recruitment exercise will take place countrywide in October 2025. 

“The recruitment period offers a unique opportunity to serve your country in a vital, supportive capacity,” KDF said in a statement.

Successful applicants will undergo rigorous selection and training processes, “designed to instill discipline, patriotism, and technical competence”. Interested applicants are urged to confirm eligibility criteria and ensure they meet the academic, physical, and professional standards required. 

For a GSO Graduate Cadets post, applicants must hold a minimum mean grade of B (Plain) in KCSE with C+ (Plus) in English, Mathematics and one (1) Science subject. Must be a Bachelor’s degree holder from a recognized University/Institution. The training period for this category will be fifteen months.

The GSO Regular Cadets, 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.

For Specialist Officers position, the applicants must have at least a B (Plain) in KCSE with C+ (Plus) in English, Mathematics and one (1) Science subject except for Chaplains/Imams who must hold a minimum mean grade of C+ (Plus) in KCSE. Must be a degree holder from a recognized University/Institution and be registered with a regulatory/statutory body where applicable in the respective discipline. The training period for Specialist Officers will be six months.

In addition, KDF is recruiting Tradesmen/ women under two categories;

Those applying with a Craft or Certificate must have 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.

While applicants with a Diploma, must have 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.