Ministry of Defence Shortlisted Candidates 2025/2026 PDF Download
The Kenya Ministry of Defence shortlisted candidates 2025 PDF download is out. The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) announced shortlisted candidates for vacancies such as General Service Officer (GSO) cadets (regular & graduate), Specialist officers, tradesmen and women etc.
This means that if you applied for the Ministry of Defence recruitment in 2025, you may proceed to check if you qualify for the next stage of the recruitment.
In this post, you will read the steps on how you can access and download list of successful candidates for the 2025 Kenya Ministry of Defence recruitment exercise. You will also see what to do next if your name appears on the list.
Overview of the Ministry of Defence Recruitment Exercise
The Kenya Ministry of Defence (MoD) is responsible for managing the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). These include the Kenya Army, Kenya Air Force, and the Kenya Navy. On a yearly basis, the Ministry of Defence opens its recruitment portal to allow qualified Kenyans to apply for various positions in military and civilian departments.
The recruitment exercise for the 2025/2026 recruitment attracted thousands of applicants across all 47 counties in Kenya. The process has been deliberately designed to bring in disciplined and well-trained individuals who will help maintain peace in Kenya.
According to the official announcement on the Ministry of Defence careers portal, the 2025 recruitment exercise will cover the following categories:
- General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets
- Specialist Officers
- Tradesmen and Tradeswomen
- General Duty Recruits
- Defence Forces Constables
Is Ministry of Defence Shortlisted Candidates 2025 Out?
Yes, the Ministry of Defence shortlisted candidates 2025 have been released to the public. The official announcement was made on Friday, 24th October 2025. Persons who submitted applicaiton are to visit www.mod.go.ke, www.recruit.mod.go.ke or check national newspapers.
In addition, shortlisted candidates have started receiving notifications via email about the recruitment. However, the PDF contains names of all successful candidates.
However, before the names of applicants are shortlisted, the Ministry verifies every application thoroughly. As a result, only candidates who meet all the required conditions are selected to move to the next stage. Let’s consider some of these criteria for selection.
Eligibility Criteria for Shortlisting
The following are the eligibility criteria used by the Ministry of Defence to shortlist candidates for the 2025 recruitment exercise:
1. Complete Application: Only applicants who submitted their forms before the official closing date will be considered for the selection. This means that incomplete applications will lead to automatic disqualification during this recruitment exercise.
2. Academic Requirements: Applicants applying for the General Duty Recruits would need at least a D+ in their KCSE to be shortlisted. However, those applying for positions as Tradesmen or Tradeswomen require a diploma certificate in a technical field to progress to the next stage of recruitment.
3. Citizenship: Applicants must be Kenyan citizens and must possess a valid national ID and passport to show for it.
4. Age and Physical Fitness: The Ministry of Defence set age limits for the different categories of applicants. Those applying as General Duty Recruits must be between 18 and 26 years old. On the other hand, those candidates applying for positions as Specialist Officers should be no older than 30 years. In addition, all candidates must be physically and medically fit with a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI).
5. Good Conduct: It is expected that all applicants have a clean criminal record. In fact, anyone found to have bribed officials will be disqualified and prosecuted.

How to Check Ministry of Defence Shortlisted Candidates 2025/2026
These are the steps to follow to check your names on the 2025/2026 shortlist;
- Visit the Official Website of the Ministry of Defence. If that doesn’t work for you, you can visit the direct recruitment portal https://recruit.mod.go.ke.
- Locate the Media Section on the homepage of the portal. Click on it to open all available recruitment updates.
- Find the Shortlist Notice by looking for the post labeled, “KDF RECRUITMENT EXERCISE SPOT CHECK”. This post will contain the document containing the shortlist.
- Download the PDF document and search for your name in the document. If you can’t find your name, search using your Application Number or National ID Number.
Names of KDF Shortlisted Candidates 2025
The full list of shortlisted names is contained in the official PDF file uploaded on the Ministry of Defence website. Each applicant is expected to download the list and confirm their details. You can either print the page that contains your name or take a screenshot for reference.

Download KDF shortlisted candidates 2025 PDF
KDF Interview Dates and Centers 2025
General Service Officer, GSO Cadet (Regular): Those in this category are to report for KDF interview on Monday, 1st December 2025 at Kenya Military Academy, Lanet Nakuru at 8:0am.
General Service Officer, GSO Cadet (Graduate): Candidates shortlisted for this category should report for interview on Monday, 24th November 2025 at Kenya Military Academy, Lanet Nakuru at 8:0am.
Specialist Officers: Shortlisted persons for this position shall report for interview on Monday, 8th December 2025 by 8:00am at Kenya Military Academy, Lanet Nakuru.
Tradesmen/Women: Candidates shortlisted by KDF for this category shall go for screening at Ulinzi Sports Complex, Langata, Nairobi on Monday, 3rd November 2025 at 8:00am.
What to Do After Checking the Shortlist
If you’ve been shortlisted, carefully read every instruction that has been written in the shortlist notification that was sent to you because it contains important details about your interview.
It is most likely that your interview could take place at the KDF training center. So, make sure you go to the exact location stated at least one hour early.
When you get there, officials will ask to see your documents and may ask a few simple questions about your background. Always be honest and confident when answering.
Remember that good behaviour and discipline are very important in this recruitment exercise, and they are among the main values the Defence Forces look for in every candidate.
Conclusion
If you found your name among Ministry of Defence shortlisted candidates 2025 PDF, then begin preparations to complete the next stage of the exercise. Well, if you cannot find your name, remain patient and keep visiting this page. We’ll update this page when a second batch of names is released by the KDF.
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