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For a long time, personnel recruitment for the military has been characterised by bribery and nepotism. Politicians have often taken to the stump to brag about how they had influenced the hiring of their relatives and constituents into the Kenya Defence Forces.

This opens the window to incompetent individuals securing jobs at the expense of meritocracy. The situation also forms the unfortunate foundation that later informs decision-making around staffing, promotion and deployment in the military. It is open talk that sons of top military officials recruited through nepotism are promoted through the ranks at break-neck speed.

The mandate of the KDF is to defend the country against foreign aggression, and to maintain the sovereignty of Kenya’s airspace and waters. According to the Defence ministry service charter, personnel are required to carry out their duties with the highest integrity and in accordance with laid-down rules and regulations. And the regulations will be based on the highest professional standards and will be blind to gender, ethnic, race or any other consideration.

The mission of the KDF is to be a premier, credible and mission-capable force deeply rooted in professionalism. This cannot be achieved if the country continues with its corrupt and rudimentary hiring routines. Kenya requires a modern and professional military built on more brain that brawn.

That is why our attention has been drawn to a statement by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi that the government plans to digitise the recruitment for members of the disciplined forces to check endemic corruption and ensure fairness and merit.

According to Mudavadi, the government is inclined to online applications and recruitment for the police and defence forces.

In doing this, the government will be leveraging the transformative power of technology by phasing out physical contact between recruiters and recruits. Many families have lost their property and been left in penury by criminals with the promise of jobs in the disciplined forces. Corruption in recruitment has also deferred the dreams of many young people wanting to join the KDF.

The world over, state agencies and businesses have moved to tap the safety and efficiencies of the digital space. Digital hiring for the KDF will be a step in the right direction.