The applicant, identified as Idris Kiprop, became emotional and protested loudly after officers told him he could not continue with the exercise.
Idris said he had been trying to join the disciplined forces for eight years, but every time, he is turned away because of his height.
He questioned why height should stop him from serving his country when he believes he has the strength and ability to work as a police officer.
He also claimed that there are already police officers in the service who are not tall, and asked why the rule is still being used to lock him out.
The young man went on to accuse the recruitment team of discrimination. He emotionally wondered whether poverty was also part of the reason he was always rejected.
His frustration grew as he pleaded with the officers to give him a chance or explain why he had been blocked again.
Idris also made a direct appeal to President William Ruto, asking him to intervene. He said he is ready to serve the country in any capacity, even joking that he could work as the President’s personal guard if given the opportunity.
His words attracted attention from other applicants and locals, who watched as he tried to plead his case.
However, the recruitment officer in charge, Moses Kirong, defended the decision. He explained that the team was following the official recruitment guidelines, which set the minimum height for male applicants at 5 feet 8 inches.
Kirong added that the Kabarnet centre had very limited positions, with only 12 openings in total, and that every requirement had to be strictly followed to ensure fairness.
He confirmed that Idris’s protest was the only major incident during the exercise and assured the public that the guidelines were applied equally to all participants.
The incident has sparked debate about whether height should continue to be a key requirement in police recruitment. Some people believe that commitment and ability should matter more, while others say physical standards are important for the job.
