By Robai Ludenyi
A bright young life was cut short on Wednesday when a 22-year-old student from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology collapsed and died during a Kenya Defense Forces recruitment exercise in Chwele, Bungoma County. What began as a day filled with dreams of serving the nation ended in shock and sorrow, leaving fellow recruits and officers shaken.
According to Bungoma Central Sub-County Police Commander David Saina, the energetic youth had joined hundreds of hopefuls who gathered at the Chwele grounds to try their luck at joining the disciplined forces. But midway through the physical fitness test, something went terribly wrong. Witnesses say the young man suddenly staggered, lost balance, and fell to the ground. Efforts to revive him proved futile. He was rushed to Chwele Hospital, but doctors could only confirm the worst.
He said the recruit fainted during the physical exercise stage and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital at around noon. The body was later taken to Bungoma Referral Hospital mortuary as investigations began into what might have caused the sudden death.
At the recruitment grounds, a heavy silence followed the tragedy. Many of the candidates stood in disbelief, their faces reflecting both fear and grief. Lieutenant Colonel Eliud Yegon, who was overseeing the exercise, called for calm but also expressed concern over the rising number of young people arriving unprepared for the demanding process.
He revealed that several recruits faced challenges because the names on their official documents did not match, making verification difficult. However, they have encountered many cases where the names on birth certificates differ from those on school certificates.
Yegon urged youths aspiring to join the KDF to avoid drugs, live healthy lives, and prepare early, both mentally and physically, for the tough tests that come with military recruitment.
The ongoing October recruitment drive aims to fill positions for General Service Officer Cadets, Specialist Officers, Tradesmen and women, and other technical roles in fields like education, engineering, ICT, law, and supply chain management.
As the investigation continues, questions linger over what truly caused the student’s sudden collapse. Was it exhaustion, hidden illness, or something else? For now, Chwele remains in shock, and the dream of one young patriot has fallen silent.
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The author is Robai Ludenyi. Journalist and Media Innovator