The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has raised alarm over the use of illegal drugs and substances by young people in Garissa who turned up for the KDF recruitment drive for 2025.
The recruitment exercises for the Garissa Township constituency, conducted at the Police Training Centre (PTC) grounds in Garissa town, attracted at least 250 hopeful recruits.
Elsewhere, residents of Tiaty Constituency have protested the ongoing KDF recruitment at Chemolingot grounds, accusing officials of bias and lack of transparency.
Garissa has faced significant challenges related to drug and substance abuse, with the menace worsening in recent years despite efforts by religious leaders, national government administrative officers, and multi-agency teams to curb it.
Bhang, cocaine, and miraa are among the most abused drugs, placing the country on NACADA’s list of areas affected by the menace, with stakeholders blaming the porous borders in the north and north-eastern regions, which make it easy to smuggle drugs from neighbouring countries.
Despite Garissa being predominantly Muslim, where alcohol is prohibited, underground consumption exists, often involving dangerous illicit brews.
Abuse of drugs like diazepam and codeine, which are prescription-only, has also been on the rise.
Speaking to the press during the exercise, KDF Lieutenant Colonel Mohamud Maalim regretted that most of the potential recruits subjected to medical examinations tested positive for illegal drugs and substances in their system.
However, Lieutenant Colonel Maalim was quick to note that, given the high turnout, they would still be able to get the allocated number of recruits by the end of the exercise.
“We have managed to take in about 250 potential recruits, which includes both general duty recruits and people who wanted to try their luck for the Defence Forces constabularies. This also includes those who have previously served within the KDF and the National Youth Service and then retired,” Maalim said.
“So far, the young men and women have displayed great ambition and optimism in joining the KDF, but on the flip side, medical examinations have shown an increase in the use of illegal drugs and substances. However, based on the numbers we have, I think we have enough candidates to choose from,” he added.
Maalim further assured both the candidates and the public that the exercise would be free and fair, in line with KDF’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption.
“I want to reiterate that the exercise is conducted on a free and fair basis, considering the KDF has a zero-tolerance policy on corruption,” he said.
