Vihiga senator slams KDF and police recruitment as largely a scam

Vihiga County Senator Godfrey Osotsi has slammed the government, calling the recent military and police recruitment exercises ‘largely a scam’ and questioning their credibility.

He questioned why some of the country’s most criticised institutions were missing from a Senate report on diversity and inclusivity.

Senator Osotsi made his remarks on Thursday, December 4, 2025, while lauding the National Cohesion and Equal Opportunities Committee for producing a “wonderfully done” report and commending its chair, Senator Mohamed Chute, for transforming the committee into one of the most active in the Senate.

” Mr Speaker, in the recently concluded police and military recruitment, it was a huge scam. Thousands of young Kenyans endured strenuous vetting only to be unfairly excluded as final lists were allegedly compiled elsewhere through bribery and political interference,” said Senator Osotsi.

He noted that the document thoroughly examined inclusivity across the public sector, including representation of marginalised groups, ethnic balance, age diversity and the participation of persons with disabilities.

However, the Senator raised concern over the absence of detailed scrutiny on what he termed the “most notorious institutions” in violating diversity principles, specifically the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the National Police Service and the military.

He urged the committee to launch dedicated inquiries into these bodies after the long recess, citing past reports that exposed deep-rooted tribal imbalances, particularly at the KRA.

Osotsi reserved his strongest criticism for the recent police and military recruitment drives.

He said thousands of young Kenyans endured strenuous vetting only to be unfairly excluded as final lists were allegedly compiled elsewhere through bribery and political interference.

He condemned the widespread claims of individuals walking around with recruitment slots supposedly reserved for Parliament and Cabinet offices, calling the entire process “annoying” and deeply unjust to deserving youth.

“This country must start doing the right things,” Osotsi said even as he urged for urgent reforms to restore integrity and fairness in national recruitment exercises.