It’s better to join KDF than Kenya Police because of salaries and work environment. The salaries and allowances of KDF officers are good. The lowest paid KDF officer is a trainee who takes home Ksh19,941-Ksh30,000 while the highest paid officer takes home up to Ksh 1 million per month.
Here are the salaries of KDF officers in 2023
Chief of Defence Forces (CDF)-Ksh 894,897 – Ksh 1M
Lieutenant-Generals -Ksh632,984-ksh800,000
Colonels -Ksh153,317-ksh300,000
Lt-Colonels Ksh-130,735-ksh180,000
Majors Ksh-102,106- ksh150,000
Captains Ksh73,182- ksh110,000
Corporal Ksh 32,250- ksh 70,000
Lance Corporals Ksh26,509 – ksh50,000
Privates Ksh19,941-ksh30,000
KDF SALARY ALLOWANCES 2019
These KDF salary above are exclusive of allowances. The allowance for a new recruit is Ksh7,172.
A cadet receives allowances amounting to Sh11, 852 while an Officer Cadet who has served three years earns Sh24, 520.
KDF officers are paid depending on one’s rank.
The good thing with KDF is that whenever they are deployed outside the country for peace mission, they are paid allowances. The average amount of money they earn per day in allowances is Ksh10,000.
There is a friend who was deployed to Somalia, he stayed there for 6 months. When he came back,he bought land and built a house using the allowances he earned in Somalia.
In the KDF camps,the food is subsidized,meaning that they save most of their money.This is the reason someone in KDF is able to save and invest faster than a police officer.
Qualification of joining KDF
C. Conditions for Servicemen/women
(1) Must be Kenyan citizens.
(2) Age: Between 18 and 26 years old.
(3) Be physically and mentally fit in accordance with the KDF standards.
(4) Have no criminal record.
(5) Minimum Height:
(a) Men 1.60m (5ft 3in).
(b) Women 1.52m (5ft)
(6) Minimum weight:
(a) Men: 54.55 Kg (120 lb).
(b) Women: 50.00 Kg (110 lb).
7. Female candidates must Not be pregnant at recruitment and during training.
8. Education: A minimum of mean grade D (plain) in KCSE for the general recruits.
Constables
(1) Be a Kenyan citizen and should not have dual citizenship
(2) Be in Possession of valid Kenyan National Identity card.
(3) Be between the ages of 30 and 55 years.
(4) Be ex-Kenya Defence Forces Service Member.
(5) Possess a Discharge Certificate of minimum “Very Good” in conduct.
(6) Must have served at least 3 or 9 years colour service.
(7) Be physically and medically fit in accordance with the KDF standards.
(8) Have no criminal record.
(9) Female candidates must NOT be pregnant at recruitment and during training.
Tradesmen / Women
a. Prospective candidates wishing to apply must satisfy the conditions and requirements given below.
(1) Must be Kenyan citizens.
(2) Age: Between 18 and 26 years old.
(3) Be physically and mentally fit in accordance with the KDF standards.
(4) Have no criminal record.
(5) Minimum Height:
(a) Men 1.60m (5ft 3in).
(b) Women 1.52m (5ft)
(6) Minimum weight:
(c) Men: 54.55 Kg (120 lb).
(d) Women: 50.00 Kg (110 lb).
(7) Female candidates must Not be pregnant at recruitment and during training.
(1) Education – Qualifications & Requirements:
(a) Technicians:
A minimum of mean grade C (plain) in KCSE, a relevant Diploma or above from a recognized Institution and be a registered with the relevant statutory bodies, where applicable,
(b) Catechist:
Must have a minimum of C – (minus) in KCSE, a Diploma in Catechetical studies from a recognized catechetical college/ institute and should not be beyond 35 years of age.
(c) Artisans:
A minimum of mean grade D + (plus) in KCSE and either a relevant certificate with Government Trade Test Grade II or Craft II from a recognized Institution.
