University Student Dies During KDF Recruitment in Bungoma

By Phanice Rono 

 A 22-year-old university student tragically lost his life on Wednesday during a Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) recruitment exercise in Kabuchai Constituency, Bungoma County.

The incident occurred during the physical fitness test phase of the nationwide recruitment drive held in the Chwele area.

According to Bungoma Central Sub-County Police Commander David Saina, the young man collapsed while participating in a running exercise and was rushed to Chwele Sub-County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“The recruit fainted during the physical exercise stage and was rushed to Chwele Sub-County Hospital but was confirmed dead on arrival at around noon. His body has been taken to the Bungoma Referral Hospital mortuary,” Saina said.

The deceased was a student at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) and had travelled to Kabuchai to participate in the exercise.

Lieutenant-Colonel Eliud Yegon, who supervised the recruitment, expressed concern over the number of applicants struggling to meet KDF’s physical fitness standards or being disqualified due to documentation inconsistencies.

“We have several cases where the recruits’ names on their birth certificates do not match their academic certificates,” Lt. Col. Yegon noted, adding that some candidates were also disqualified for drug use.

“You must be physically fit as per KDF standards,” he cautioned.

The ongoing KDF recruitment drive, which runs throughout October 2025, aims to fill positions for General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets, Specialist Officers, and technical roles in fields such as ICT, Engineering, Mass Communication, Law, and Supply Chain Management.

The student’s sudden death has sparked concern and renewed calls for stricter medical screening and improved emergency preparedness at recruitment centres across the country.