Iten: The Marakwet West Member of Parliament, Timothy Kipchumba, has urged all security agencies in the country to adopt an online recruitment system similar to that of the National Police Service (NPS). The NPS is set to implement this digital approach to ensure a free and fair recruitment process.

According to Kenya News Agency, Kipchumba highlighted ongoing issues of corruption in the recruitment exercises of disciplined forces, where Kenyans have reported demands for bribes to secure positions. Speaking in Iten during the budget public participation exercise, he emphasized that these practices have historically favored the children of wealthy families, thereby disadvantaging qualified candidates from less affluent backgrounds.

Kipchumba expressed concern that the recruitment process has become exclusive to the rich, compelling poorer families to sell possessions to afford bribes. Those unable to pay are often excluded from consideration. He advocated for the digital recruitment process, which would require applicants to upload their documents online, ensuring that only qualified candidates proceed to the fitness test at the local level.

This system, he argued, would enhance transparency, allowing candidates to monitor their application status. This contrasts with the current opaque procedures, where recruitment often correlates with financial inducements. Kipchumba also called on other security agencies, including the Kenya Prisons, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and the Kenya Defense Forces, to adopt similar digital recruitment strategies to provide equal opportunities for all Kenyan citizens.