The KDF recruitment 2026 requirements PDF is the Ministry of Defence advertisement titled “Advertisement for recruitment of General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets, Specialist Officers, General Duty Recruits and Tradesmen/Women into the Kenya Defence Forces”. It is a five-page document, linked from the Jobs section of mod.go.ke. The direct link is KDF-RECRUITMENT-2026.pdf. Download it only from the Ministry’s site, not from file-sharing groups.
Below is a structured summary of every requirement in that PDF.
General conditions for all categories
- Kenyan citizen holding a valid national ID card
- Bring originals plus four copies each of your ID, KRA PIN certificate and academic certificates
- No criminal record
- Medically fit to KDF standards
- Specialist Officers and Tradesmen/women: at least two years of practice since registering with the relevant regulatory body
- Final verification of selected candidates at KDF training institutions
Height, weight and BMI requirements
| Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum height | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) | 1.52 m (5 ft) |
| Minimum weight | 54.55 kg | 50.00 kg |
| BMI range | 18.5 to 30.0 | 18.5 to 30.0 |
Female candidates must not be pregnant at the time of recruitment or at any time during training.
Age limits
| Category | Age |
|---|---|
| GSO Cadets (Regular) | 18 to 23 |
| GSO Cadets (Graduate), General Duty Recruits, Tradesmen/women | 18 to 26 |
| Specialist Officers | Not above 30 |
| Medical Consultants | Not above 35 |
| Chaplains/Imams | Not above 39 |
| Catechists/Maalims | Not above 35 |
KCSE grades and qualifications by category
| Category | Minimum academic requirement | Training |
|---|---|---|
| GSO Cadet (Regular) | KCSE mean grade B (plain), with C+ in English, Mathematics and one science | 3 years, leading to a BSc in Defence and Security Studies |
| GSO Cadet (Graduate) | Regular cadet grades plus a bachelor’s degree in a listed field | 15 months |
| Specialist Officer | Regular cadet grades, a bachelor’s degree and registration with the relevant body (Chaplains/Imams: KCSE C+) | 7 months |
| General Duty Recruit | KCSE mean grade D (plain); NYS training is an added advantage | Not stated |
| Tradesmen/women (diploma) | KCSE C- (minus) plus a relevant diploma and registration where applicable | Not stated |
| Tradesmen/women (certificate) | KCSE D+ (plus) plus a certificate with Government Trade Test Grade II or Craft II | Not stated |
Vacancies listed in the PDF
GSO Cadets (Graduate): 14 fields
Disaster management/security studies; engineering (from quantity surveying and civil to aeronautical, telecommunications, marine, mechatronics and nuclear science); education (B.Ed.); finance, business and HR; geology; GIS and remote sensing; hospitality and catering; ICT (software, hardware, cyber security, networks, AI and robotics, applied statistics); strategic communication; library science; sports management; strategic management and leadership; public administration; agroforestry.
Specialist Officers
Chaplaincy (Christian chaplains must be ordained and recommended; Imams recommended by the Chief Kadhi); Legal (LL.B, Advocate of the High Court with a current practising certificate); Medical (MBChB, BDS, BScN, B.Pharm); Medical Consultants (MMed in Internal Medicine or Radiology).
Tradesmen/women: diploma holders
Band/music; Catechists/Maalims; education (including applied linguistics in French, Mandarin or Arabic); engineering (architecture to radar and hydrographic surveying); ICT (including AI, cyber security and ethical hacking); strategic communication; health technologists (clinical medicine, KRCHN, pharmaceutical technology, physiotherapy, medical imaging and others); para-legal; vehicle mechanics; cartography; laundry technology.
Tradesmen/women: artisans (certificate holders)
Automotive electrician; carpentry; masonry; electrical; electrical installation; plant/crane operator; plant electrical/mechanical; tailoring; motor vehicle mechanics; welding and fabrication; painting, decoration and sign-writing; catering and accommodation; plumbing; truck drivers (NTSA licence class BCE).
Where the PDF says to apply
Officer, specialist and tradesman candidates apply at recruit.mod.go.ke by 12 December 2026 (see our online application guide). General Duty Recruits attend the centre for their sub-county between 14 and 28 December 2026; see all dates and centres.
Wondering what the job pays once you are in? Our KDF salary scale explainer sets out what is publicly known.
KDF requirements 2026: FAQ
Where can I download the KDF recruitment 2026 requirements PDF?
From the Ministry of Defence website, mod.go.ke. The direct file is KDF-RECRUITMENT-2026.pdf, linked in the sources below.
What KCSE grade do I need to join KDF as a General Duty Recruit?
A minimum mean grade of D (plain), according to the 2026 advert.
What is the minimum height for KDF recruitment 2026?
1.60 m for men and 1.52 m for women.
What is the age limit for KDF recruitment 2026?
18 to 26 for General Duty Recruits, Graduate Cadets and Tradesmen/women; 18 to 23 for Regular Cadets; up to 30 for Specialist Officers, with higher limits for medical consultants and religious roles.
Do tradesmen need work experience?
Yes. Specialist Officers and Tradesmen/women need at least two years of practice since registering with the relevant regulatory body.
Defence Mena is not affiliated with the Kenya Defence Forces or the Ministry of Defence. This guide summarises the official advertisement; where anything differs, the Ministry of Defence document and its verified channels take precedence.
Sources
- Ministry of Defence (Kenya), “Advertisement for recruitment of General Service Officer (GSO) Cadets, Specialist Officers, General Duty Recruits and Tradesmen/Women into the Kenya Defence Forces”, PDF, November 2026
- Ministry of Defence website, mod.go.ke
- KDF recruitment portal, recruit.mod.go.ke
- The Star, “KDF announces December recruitment drive”, 12 November 2026
- Pulse Kenya, “How to apply for KDF 2026 recruitment before December 12 deadline”