Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 79601,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/79601/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 258,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Musila",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister of State for Defence",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 94,
        "legal_name": "David Musila",
        "slug": "david-musila"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Ministry has considered that in the public interest we issue the following Statement: The main allegations have been that the lady, Gladys Chepkechei Tarus was unfairly disqualified from the Recruitment Training School and that her position was taken by someone who paid Kshs300,000. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we would like to state as follows: We categorically deny the allegation that this lady was unfairly excluded from recruitment. As hon. Members are aware, military recruitment exercise all over the world follows some specific requirements for recruiting potential candidates. For the Kenyan military, women candidates must, among other requirements, not be pregnant at the time of enlisting and during training. Potential women candidates are expected to be screened for pregnancy using an immunological test where the presence of some hormones is checked in the urine. In the case of Gladys Tarus, she underwent a medical test on 8th October, 2010 at Kabarnet in Baringo Central District. Her pregnancy test then was negative. In fact, I would like to tell hon. Members that she was the best candidate in that recruitment centre. She was excellent. She ran and was the first. In fact, after she finished her race, the recruiting officers had to wait for three minutes before the second person arrived. This means she was excellent and the records will show that. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, having undergone the initial medical exams and other pre-military qualification tests, she was deemed a successful candidate and was issued with a calling letter to report to the RTS in Eldoret on 25th October, 2010. It is a requirement that upon reporting at the RTS in Eldoret, all candidates undergo a further medical test and other military competitive tests. During these tests that were conducted in Eldoret on 25th October, 2010, Gladys’ tests on pregnancy were positive. She was duly informed of the results. She was informed that she was no longer qualified for military placement. I want to go on record and emphatically state that Gladys was not unfairly disqualified. Her case was not in isolation. Several other potential recruits numbering not less than 28 were also disqualified on that day for various reasons, including two other girls who tested positive along with Gladys. However, all in all, we were able to recruit a total of 418 women who have now joined the military. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, Gladys Tarus, on her own volition, went to Eldoret Town to conduct a further repeat of pregnancy test after she was declared unfit. Later that night, she went back to the school with documents suggesting that she was not pregnant. She presented to the college the results of her medical examination which showed that it was actually an ultra-sound, which I have here and I would like to read the results by the doctor who examined her. This is ultra sound - The doctor is Dr. Kimutai. He said that there is no evidence of pregnancy. However, he proposed and recommended that it should be repeated using urine test because obviously hon. Members are aware that if it is a pregnancy of, say, two or three weeks, it will not be detected in ultra-sound. Therefore, Dr. Kimutai recommended that way. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, our doctors agreed with the recommendation of Dr. Kimutai that they repeat the test. I want to say now that this was going to be a third test because two tests had already shown that Gladys Tarus was positive in pregnancy. But when the doctors now attempted to do a further test, they found that there was vaginal bleeding and, therefore, discontinued that test. Since her earlier pregnancy tests had indicated that she was pregnant and a further clinical examination, she was found to have vaginal bleeding, she was, therefore, declared unfit for military training. That is the position and our Ministry will not change this position. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the allegation that Gladys Tarus was replaced after disqualification and her place taken by someone who paid Kshs300,000, I wish to state that the military recruitment officially ended on 22nd October, 2010 and the training school in Eldoret is not a recruitment centre. I want to say that candidates who reported on 25th October, 2010 went there simply to be received. There was no recruitment going on. No recruitment or replacement of those people who were not fit took place. All together, over 28 candidates were disqualified for various reasons and no replacement took place. Therefore, the question of someone paying Kshs300,000 to replace Gladys Tarus does not arise. In any event, the Ministry had repeatedly cautioned the public against corruption. If there is anyone including the NGO in question with information indicating that money changed hands to secure anyone a place in military training any time, they should report these facts to the Kenya Anti- Corruption Commission (KACC) or to any other law enforcement agency. These are the facts and I hope that this matter will settle. I would like to be available to respond to any clarifications that hon. Members may have."
}