KDF Recruitment 2025/2026 Dates and Centers, Requirements, Portal

KDF recruitment 2025/2026 dates and centers is out. The online application process for Kenya Defence Forces recruitment October 2025 is starting on 14th September to 12th October 2025 at www.recruit.mod.go.ke.

In this article, you will learn about the Kenya Defence Forces, KDF recruitment 2025/2026 dates and centers, requirements, application portal, qualifications needed to join and the appropriate steps on how to successfully apply.

Interestingly, the Ministry of Defence has opt out an official notice that the next Kenya Defence Force (KDF) recruitment exercise shall be conducted online at www.recruit.mod.go.ke or www.mod.go.ke.

Has it been your desire to join the Kenya Defence Force and serve father’s land in any possible capacity? Whether you wish to join as cadet officer, combat officer, General Service Officer (GSO), regular and graduate cadets, specialist officers, or tradesmen/women etc. then this is the right time.

Before proceeding with application, we indulge you to carefully read and understand what the recruitment process entails. Meanwhile, we shall also address the following questions:

• How Can I Join KDF in 2025?
• Is Kenya Defence Forces Recruitment 2025 Ongoing?
• What is KDF Recruitment News Today 2025?
• What are the dates and centers for recruitment of KDF 2025?
• KDF recruitment and centers
• When is the next KDF Cadet Recruitment in 2025?
• Is KDF Civilian Recruitment Form Out?
• Can I Join KDF with KCSE D+ Mean Grade?
• How Can I apply for Kenya military recruitment 2025?

Functions for Kenya Defence Forces

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) as the name implies is a conglomerate comprises of the Army, Navy, and Air force. Together, the role of these forces include national security, boarder guide, stability, safety of citizens and properties etc.

Also, you can spot KDF as the backbone of the nation’s military strength. Irrespective of the fractions (land, air and water), the force is unified to achieve common goals.

Based on the antecedent of KDF recruitment exercises, it has been proven that many Kenyan youths seek to join the force in other to protect the country and ultimate exhibit patriotism by serving the land.

It is on this note that the force do conduct recruitment to select most suitable, eligible and fit candidates for open vacancies and the 2025 phase is set to commence. Would you like to participate? Continue reading.

Important Info! The Kenya Defence Force (KDF) recruitment exercise including the application process, shortlisting and appointment is totally free of charge. Interested candidates are to visit the online careers portal www.recruit.mod.go.ke or www.applications.mod.go.ke to submit application.

Kenya Defence Force Recruitment 2025 Vacancies

• General Service Officer (GSO)
• Cadets (Regular and Graduate)
• Specialist Officers
• General Duty Recruits
• Tradesmen/women
• Constables
• Combat Officers
• Driver II
• Artisan (Panel Beater III)
• Artisan (Spray Painter III)
• Artisan (Welder III)
• Artisan III (Tailor)
• Motor Vehicle Electrician etc.

Academic Qualifications for KDF Recruitment Vacancies (October 2025)

1. Regular General Service Officer (GSO) Cadet: Persons interested in this role are expected to possess the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) with a minimum of B (plain) mean grade, C+ (plus) in English, Mathematics and any other science subject.
2. Graduate General Service Officer (GSO) Cadet: Interested applicants of this rank must have B.Sc. or equivalent qualification from a recognized tertiary institution.
3. Specialist Officers: Applicants of this rank should hold first degree or equivalent qualification from an accredited institution.
4. Service Members (General Duty) Recruits: Prospective applicant of this position must have at least D (plain) in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and had well complete the National Youth Service (NYS) training.
5. Tradesmen/women: For this rank, candidates with a Diploma or Certificate with Government Trade Test Grade II or Craft II from an approved institution can apply.
6. Constables: This goes for mainly persons who have retired from the National Youth Service or KDF. Candidate must hold a discharge certificate with at least a rating of “Good” in conduct.

General Requirements for KDF Recruitment 2025/2026

The general eligibility criteria for the 2025/2026 intake are as follows:

• Citizenship: Only Kenyan citizens by birth are eligible to apply for the defence force recruitment. Indigenes shall show government-issued identity card or travel passport.
• Age Requirements: The acceptable age range for KDF Kenya Defence Force (KDF) recruitment is 18 – 22 years.
• Education: Applicants applying for constables, combat officers etc. must have at least D+ mean grade in K.S.C.E while those going for tradesmen/women, graduate cadets etc. must possess a Diploma or Degree from a recognized institution.
• Fitness/Height:  Both male and female applicants must be above 5ft. must also be physically and mentally fit due to the military training involve. Acceptable weight for male applicant is 54.55kg while female is 50.00kg.
• Personal Attributes: Applicant should be able to express self in both verbal and non-verbal form. Good interpersonal skills and team player is an added advantage.
• Professional Certification: Applicants with degree are expected to be member of professional body relevant to their academic discipline.
• Other requirements: Candidates applying must have zero criminal record and should possess clearance certificates as specified in chapter six (6) of the Kenyan constitution.

Qualifications for KDF Jobs 2025

More specifically, below are the academic qualifications required for top role positions:

1. General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets: Entry level qualification for this position is KCSE mean grade B (Plain) and C+ (Plus) in English and Mathematics etc. Meanwhile, during training selected persons shall undergo B.Sc. course in Defence and Security studies.

2. Specialist Officers: Applicants of this category must have a degree recognized in Kenya, be a member of relevant professional body and possess D+ mean grade in KCSE. Training for this category shall be for 6 months.

3. Tradesmen/Women: Applicants must have either a Diploma in relevant discipline from a recognized institution or a Certificate in Government Trade Test Grade II or Craft II etc.

KDF Recruitment 2025 Dates and Centers

The KDF 2025 recruitment exercise shall be conducted from Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025. Interested persons are to first visit the online recruitment portal www.recruit.mod.go.ke or www.mod.go.ke to submit application and then visit the nearest recruitment center at assigned date for the recruitment screening.

S/N	Centers	Dates
1	Nyandarua	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
2	Nyeri	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
3	Kirinyaga	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
4	Murang’a	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
5	West Pokot	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
6	Samburu	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
7	Trans-Nzoia	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
8	Uasin Gishu	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
9	Nakuru	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
10	Makueni	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
11	Embu	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
12	Kitui	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
13	Machakos	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
14	Kericho	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
15	Bomet	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
16	Kakamega	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
17	Vihiga	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
18	Bungoma	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
19	Busia	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
20	Siaya	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
21	Kisumu	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
22	Narok	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
23	Kajiado	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
24	Homa Bay	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
25	Elgeyo-Marakwet	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
26	Nandi	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
27	Baringo	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
28	Laikipia	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
29	Kiambu	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
30	Turkana	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
31	Migori	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
32	Kisii	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
33	Nyamira	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
34	Nairobi	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
35	Mombasa	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
36	Kwale	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
37	Kilifi	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
38	Tana River	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
39	Lamu	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
40	Taita Mak Taveta	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
41	Garissa	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
42	Wajir	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
43	Mandera	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
44	Marsabit	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
45	Isiolo	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
46	Meru	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025
47	Tharaka-Nithi	Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025

Full List of KDF Recruitment Dates and Centers PDF

Download the PDF of Kenya Defence Forces recruitment dates and centers (October 2025).

MONDAY, 13TH OCTOBER 2025	BARINGO	KOLOWA	KOLOWA
	BUNGOMA	WEBUYE WEST	MATISI
	BUSIA	BUSIA	MATAYOS
	BUSIA	BUTULA	BUTULA
	BUSIA	TESO NORTH	AMAGORO
	ELGEYO/MARAKWET	MARAKWET EAST	CHESOI
	HOMA BAY	HOMA BAY	HOMABAY
	HOMA BAY	RACHUONYO EAST	KADONGO
	KAJIADO	KAJIADO WEST	KISAMIS
	KAJIADO	LOITOKTOK	LOITOKTOK
	KAKAMEGA	MATETE	MATETE
	KISII	KISII SOUTH	KERINA
	KISUMU	KISUMU WEST	OJOLLA
	KITUI	KATULANI	KATULANI
	KITUI	TSEIKURU	TSEIKURU
	KWALE	SHIMBA HILLS	SHIMBA HILLS
	LAIKIPIA	KIRIMA	OL-MORAN
	LAMU	LAMU CENTRAL	AMU
	MANDERA	KHALALIO	KHALALIO
	MARSABIT	DUKANA	DUKANA
	MARSABIT	MARSABIT CENTRAL	MARSABIT
	MERU	IGEMBE SOUTH	MAUA
	MERU	MERU CENTRAL	GATIMBI
	MIGORI	NYATIKE WEST	SORI
	MOMBASA	CHANGAMWE	CHANGAMWE
	MURANG’A	GATANGA	GATANGA
	MURANG’A	MATHIOYA	KIRIA-INI
	NAIROBI CITY	DAGORETTI NORTH	JAMHURI GROUNDS
		DAGORETTI SOUTH
		KIBRA
		LANG’ATA
		WESTLANDS
		EMBAKASI NORTH	KASARANI MISC
		KASARANI
		MATHARE
		NJIRU
		ROYSAMBU
		RUARAKA
		EMBAKASI CENTRAL	NYAYO STADIUM
		EMBAKASI EAST
		EMBAKASI SOUTH
		EMBAKASI WEST
		KAMUKUNJI
		MAKADARA
		STAREHE

		NAKURU	NAKURU EAST	NAKURU
		NYAMIRA	MASABA NORTH	KEROKA
		NYANDARUA	SOUTH KINANGOP	NJABINI
		TANA RIVER	BANGALE	MADOGO
		TANA RIVER	GALLEDYERTU	WAYU
		TANA RIVER	TANA NORTH	BURA TANA
		TURKANA	TURKANA CENTRAL	LODWAR
		TURKANA	TURKANA SOUTH	LOKICHAR
		WAJIR	WAJIR EAST	WAJIR
TUESDAY, 14TH OCTOBER 2025		WEST POKOT	WEST POKOT	KAPENGURIA
		BARINGO	TIATY WEST	CHEMOLINGOT
		BUNGOMA	BUMULA	BUMULA
		BUNGOMA	BUNGOMA SOUTH	BUNGOMA
		BUNGOMA	WEBUYE EAST	WEBUYE
		BUSIA	TESO SOUTH	BUSIA
		ELGEYO/MARAKWET	MARAKWET WEST	KAPSOWAR
		GARISSA	GARISSA	GARISSA
		HOMA BAY	SUBA CENTRAL	SINDO
		KAJIADO	KAJIADO NORTH	NGONG
		KAJIADO	MASHURU	MASHURU
		KERICHO	SIGOWET	CHEPKEMEL
		KIAMBU	KIAMBAA	KARURI
		KILIFI	KALOLENI	KALOLENI
		KISII	MARANI	MARANI
		KISUMU	SEME	KOMBEWA
		KITUI	KITUI CENTRAL	KITUI
		KITUI	KYUSO	KYUSO
		KITUI	MWINGI EAST	MATHUKI
		KWALE	MATUGA	KWALE
		LAIKIPIA	NYAHURURU	NYAHURURU
		LAMU	LAMU WEST	MPEKETONI
		MANDERA	MANDERA EAST	MANDERA
		MARSABIT	MARSABIT SOUTH/ LAISAMIS	LAISAMIS
		MARSABIT	NORTH HORR	NORTH HORR
		MERU	IGEMBE CENTRAL	KANGETA
		MERU	IGOJI	IGOJI
		MIGORI	NYATIKE SOUTH	MUHURU BAY
		MURANG’A	MURANG’A SOUTH	KENOL
		NAKURU	NAKURU NORTH	BAHATI
		NAKURU	NAKURU WEST	KAPKURES
		NAROK	NAROK EAST	NAIREGEA ENKARE
		NYAMIRA	MANGA	MANGA
		NYANDARUA	NORTH KINANGOP	ENGINEER
		NYERI	TETU	WAMAGANA
		TANA RIVER	TANA RIVER	HOLA
		TURKANA	KIBISH	KIBISH
		VIHIGA	LUANDA	LUANDA
		WAJIR	WAJIR NORTH	BUTE
		WEST POKOT	KIPKOMO	CHEPARERIA
		WEST POKOT	POKOT NORTH	ALALE
WEDNESDAY, 15TH OCTOBER 2025		BARINGO	MUKUTANI	MUKUTANI
		BUNGOMA	KIMAETI	KIMAETI
		BUNGOMA	TONGAREN	TONGAREN
		BUSIA	TESO CENTRAL	AMUKURA
		GARISSA	DADAAB	DADAAB
		HOMA BAY	SUBA SOUTH	MAGUNGA
		ISIOLO	MERTI	MERTI
		KAJIADO	ELANGATA WUAS	MAILI 46
		KAJIADO	KAJIADO CENTRAL	KAJIADO
		KAKAMEGA	KAKAMEGA CENTRAL	KAKAMEGA
		KERICHO	BELGUT	SOSIOT
		KIAMBU	NDEIYA	NDERU
		KILIFI	RABAI	RABAI
		KISII	NYAMACHE	NYAMACHE
		KITUI	LOWER YATTA	KYUSYANI
		KITUI	MIGWANI/MWINGI WEST	MIGWANI
		KITUI	THAGICHU	NTHANGANI
		KWALE	KINANGO	KINANGO
		LAMU	LAMU EAST	FAZA
		MANDERA	KILIWEHIRI	KILIWEHIRI
		MARSABIT	LOIYANGALANI	LOYANGALANI
		MERU	MUTUATI	MUTUATI
		MERU	NKUENE-MITUNGUU	NKUBU
		MIGORI	NYATIKE NORTH	MACALDER
		MURANG’A	KANDARA	KANDARA
		NAKURU	NJORO	NJORO
		NAKURU	SUBUKIA	SUBUKIA
		NAROK	NAROK CENTRAL	NAROK

Other trending jobs in Kenya today:

• Kenya Pipeline Company Recruitment
• Kenya Seed Company Recruitment
• Kenya Film Commission Recruitment

How to Apply for Kenya Defence Force Recruitment 2025

To submit application for KDF vacancies, visit the careers portal, select the position that best fits your qualifications, carefully fill the online application form, attach copies of relevant documents, cross check your application and submit.

Documents required for KDF online application are:

• Current National Identity Card or Passport (Back & Front)
• Kenya Certificate of Secondary Certificate (KCSE)
• Diploma, Degree, Certificate or any other relevant qualification.

Kenya Defence Forces Recruitment Process

Just like any other recruitment exercise, joining KDF involves three (3) basic stages:

1. Application phase: In this stage, eligible Kenyans interested in vacancies announced does proceed to submit application online at KDF careers portal.

2. Shortlist: When the set application deadline elapse, the management of KDF shall review submitted applications and then release names of most qualified candidates.

3. Screening and Training: This is the final stage where shortlisted candidates are screened, then those who pass the assessment are scheduled for training and then deployment.

Why You Should Join Kenya Defence Force (KDF)

In as much as joining the force is not an easy nor common task, there are numerous benefits that compensate for that stress and sacrifice. These includes good salary and allowances, healthcare for you and family, pension scheme, government immunity, career stability, respect & honour, adventure & travel etc.

FAQs

Below are seasoned answers to most frequently asked questions about KDF employment:

How Can I Join KDF in 2025?

To join the Kenya Defence Force (KDF) in 2025, you must be a Kenyan citizen between 18 – 22 years, possess valid national ID, D+ mean grade in KCSE, then visit the official careers portal www.mod.go.ke to fill and submit the application form.

What are the dates and centers for recruitment of KDF 2025?

The dates for KDF cadet recruitment is Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025 across all counties of Kenya.

Is KDF Civilian Recruitment Form Out?

Yes, the Kenya Defence Force Civilian recruitment form is out.

Can I Join KDF with KCSE D+ Mean Grade?

Yes, the minimum qualification to join KDF as a cadet or constable is D+ mean grade in KSCE. Meanwhile Diploma and Degree are of specialist officers.

How Can I apply for Kenya military recruitment 2025/2026?

To apply for Kenya Military recruitment 2025, visit the online jobs portal at www.mod.go.ke/online-portal-required-documents.

Final Thought

KDF recruitment 2025 dates would likely be between Monday, 13th October – Saturday, 25th October 2025 across designated centers across the country. Notwithstanding, the management set intentions to carry out an online recruitment exercise to foster transparency and curb extortion.