In a recent interview with Citizen TV’s Rashid Abdalla, Aden Duale, the Defence Cabinet Secretary of Kenya, explained the significance of height and weight in the recruitment of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
Duale emphasized that although height and weight may seem unimportant to citizens, they are crucial factors in the military. He explained that the weight limit of 54.5kg for men and 50kg for women is to ensure that candidates can endure the rigorous training exercise.
The standard military training in Kenya involves carrying heavy weights of over 20 kilograms, and underweight individuals might hurt themselves or, in extreme cases, die during the process. The current minimum height requirement for men is 1.60m (5ft 3in) while that for women is 1.52m (5ft).
Duale acknowledged that height and weight could disadvantage some communities during recruitment, but he assured the public that his leadership would ensure equality in terms of regional, county, community, and gender during recruitment.
He also stressed that no cases of corruption would be tolerated, and the court martial has zero tolerance for corruption. In recent years, the KDF has become more inclusive by accepting women in the same way as men.
