Police recruitment: Baringo man expresses frustrations after being rejected 8 times over height

Season after season, 27-year-old Idris Kiprop has shown up determined, optimistic, and fully prepared for police recruitment in Baringo. He has turned up eight times, unrelenting in his pursuit, and has been turned away eight times.

On Monday, November 17, 2025, during the police recruitment exercise in Baringo, his frustration at the missed opportunities could no longer be contained, and he spoke up against what he perceives as being denied an opportunity to take up a career he really wants to. 

He went back home, dejected, disappointment written clearly across his face.

For eight long years, Idris Kiprop has attempted each recruitment season with the same dream, to don a police uniform and serve his country.

Every year in Baringo, he has shown up determined, hopeful, and prepared. But each time, a single barrier has stopped him, his height.

On Monday morning in Baringo Central, Idris once again joined dozens of other hopefuls on the recruitment grounds as candidates went through physical checks, endurance tests, and document verification. For him, the outcome felt painfully familiar.

“Ni watu wangapi wafupi kama mimi na wako kazi? Kama ni hivyo basi futeni wale wote wako katika idara ya polisi na ni wafupi,” said Kiprop.

With only one year left before he hits the upper age limit for police recruitment, this was not just another attempt, it was a race against time.

He had even attended the National Youth Service (NYS), believing the training would strengthen his chances.

“Niko trained nimefanya NYS paramilitary training,” said Kiprop.

When the officers ruled him out over the same height requirement that has barred him for nearly a decade, emotions ran high. Frustrated and feeling wronged, Kiprop confronted the recruiting team, insisting he deserved a chance.

“Toa viatu…kila wakati wanasema mimi ni mfupi ata mimi nataka hiyo kazi,” he said.

“Nimejaribu KDF nikaambiwa mimi ni mfupi…nimejaribu KWS, Kenya Forest na naambiwa kitu the same tu,” said Kiprop.

Moses Kirong, the recruitment officer in charge of Baringo Central, said the process is strictly guided by national procedures that leave no room for exceptions.

He confirmed that the turnout in Baringo Central was relatively low, with only 12 candidates expected to be recruited, a number too small to bend the rules.

For Kiprop, the pain of another lost opportunity is hard to come to terms with, especially given the fact that height is a variable he really has no control over.