Police job eludes woman a fifth time

A woman from Baringo failed to be recruited into the disciplinary forces for the fifth time on Monday.

Ms Gladys Jepkechei has tried to join Kenya Police Service twice, Kenya Defence Forces twice and Kenya Wildlife Service once. Her latest attempt was at the police recruitment drive where she came first in the race.

However, she was not picked as the “medical examination showed she was unfit”.

She walked away dejected when her name was not among the 10 women who qualified. She declined to speak to journalists.

Ms Jepkechei, 25, who hails from Kabarbarma Village, was the only successful woman from Baringo Central to land a KDF job during hiring in 2010. She reported to the barracks on October 25, 2010 and her Service Number was 109524.

However, in a strange twist, Ms Jepkechei was told she was pregnant when she reported at the Recruit Training School in Eldoret and was dismissed.

However, subsequent pregnancy tests at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret tested negative.

“I felt the pregnancy theory was just a scapegoat to deny me a place I got by merit,” Ms Jepkechei told the Nation then.

Gilgil police boss Serah Koki told journalists that out of the 49 recruits who were enlisted, police took the lion’s share of 23 recruits (10 women and 13 men), 13 joined AP while the General Service Unit got 13.

VENUE WAS CHANGED

At Moiben in Uasin Gishu County, there were demands for a repeat of the just-concluded police recruitment after the venue was changed at the last minute.

More than 400 youths turned up at Kipchoge Keino Stadium on Monday, only to be directed to Moiben DO’s office, which is more than 40kms away.

“It seems this was done deliberately to block us from participating. Why is the government turning against its own people? ” one of the aggrieved aspirants, Mr Felix Kimaiyo, said.

Uasin Gishu County Police Commandant Muchunguh Nyaga told the Nation at the stadium the recruitment was at the DO’s office.

In Kisumu it was joy for Kolwa East resident Belinda Anyango. She was picked to join the AP last year when the results were cancelled. She was fortunate to make it again during the fresh drive at Mamboleo showground in Kisumu.

“I am very happy, since I was young I have always wanted to join the police. I leave everything to God,” she said.

In Mbeere, tens of youths who turned up for the recruitment at Umau Stadium protested when they were sent away due to chipped teeth and colouration as a result of chewing miraa as well as using borehole water.

The officer in charge of the AP recruitment, James Mwaura, said the regulations barred people with such conditions.

Reported by Florah Koech, Wycliff Kipsang, Angela Oketch and Charles Wanyoro