KDF Shortlists 3000 Candidates For These Positions After Recruitment Exercise: How To Check
KDF invited the successful applicants to attend interviews and selection exercises scheduled to take place across designated centers in the country.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has released the list of over 3,000 shortlisted candidates for various positions following its nationwide recruitment exercise held in October 2025.
In a notice issued on Friday, October 25, KDF invited the successful applicants to attend interviews and selection exercises scheduled to take place across designated centers in the country.
According to the statement, candidates shortlisted for General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets — 861 in Regular and 706 in Graduate — as well as 493 Specialist Officers and 1,310 Tradesmen/Women, are required to report to specific venues on different dates in November and December.
GSO Cadet (Regular) candidates are expected to report to the Kenya Military Academy (KMA) in Lanet, Nakuru, on Monday, December 1, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. Graduate Cadet applicants will report to the same venue a week earlier, on Monday, November 24, 2025, at 8:00 a.m.
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment exercise in Lamu County on October 21, 2025. /KDF
Specialist Officer candidates will also undergo their selection process at KMA, Lanet, Nakuru, on Monday, December 8, 2025, starting at 8:00 a.m. Meanwhile, shortlisted Tradesmen and Women will report to the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Lang’ata, Nairobi, on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 8:00 a.m.
Regular GSO Cadets are career military officers trained to lead troops across the Kenya Army, Air Force, and Navy. They form the foundation of KDF’s officer corps, responsible for leadership, planning, and maintaining discipline.
These cadets undertake a rigorous three-year military and academic program at the Kenya Military Academy, culminating in a Bachelor of Science in Military and Security Studies from Kenyatta University.
Graduate GSO Cadets, on the other hand, are degree holders recruited to serve as officers within the KDF. Their training is shorter—around nine months—since they already possess academic qualifications. They are prepared for leadership roles that blend military command with technical, administrative, or operational expertise.
Specialist Officers are professionals brought into the KDF to offer expert services in fields vital to defense operations. They serve as commissioned officers, focusing on specialized roles rather than direct combat. These include medical professionals, engineers, lawyers, IT experts, pilots, air traffic controllers, chaplains, and Imams, among others.
After basic military orientation and officer training, they are integrated into their respective specializations, providing technical leadership and mentorship within the force.
Tradesmen and women form the technical and operational support backbone of KDF. They are skilled personnel such as electricians, drivers, mechanics, carpenters, cooks, clerks, tailors, welders, musicians, and ICT technicians.
Their responsibilities include equipment maintenance, logistics, and ensuring operational readiness across KDF installations.
After recruitment, trades personnel undergo basic military training at the Kenya Defence Forces Training School in Eldoret, followed by specialized instruction in their respective trades at KDF workshops and training centers.
How To Access List & Requirements
The complete list of shortlisted candidates is available by clicking here.
The Ministry of Defence has specified the documentation required for the interview process. Candidates are required to bring their original National ID card, academic and professional certificates, curriculum vitae (CV), and any other relevant testimonials, along with four photocopies of each document.
KDF has confirmed that all shortlisted candidates will receive food and accommodation during the interview period. Those who are not successful will also be refunded their travel expenses in accordance with KDF regulations.
The ministry further advised applicants to bring warm clothing and strongly warned against any attempts to bribe or engage in corrupt practices to influence recruitment results, further warning that "Any person found engaging in recruitment-related malpractice will be arrested and prosecuted."
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers during a past training exercise. /KDF
