Kenya has stirred controversy by prohibiting youths adorned with tattoos from participating in the National Youth Service (NYS) recruitment drive nationwide.
The recruitment, held at Thika Stadium on Monday and Tuesday, attracted hopeful candidates eager to seize vacancies announced by the NYS.
However, dismay struck some applicants as they were unexpectedly disqualified for displaying tattoos on their hands, chests, and other body parts, despite meeting academic and physical fitness criteria.
Expressing frustration, several youths revealed that they acquired tattoos during secondary school when it was socially acceptable.
They pleaded with authorities to reconsider, even offering to remove the tattoos to seize the government’s opportunity.
The disqualifications extended beyond tattoos, with some youths facing rejection due to discrepancies in national identification cards and low academic scores.
Leaders from Thika lamented the low turnout, attributing it to the disqualifications, as the NYS aimed to recruit over 15,000 individuals nationwide.
While authorities have yet to clarify the tattoo ban, promising a statement post-exercise, the decision has ignited debate over the fairness and inclusivity of recruitment criteria.
