'How my dream to join police service was crushed despite my tall height'

Earlier this week during the police recruitment that was taking place countrywide, a video went viral of a man who decried the unfairness that was in the exercise.

"Kuna mapolisis wafupi kama mimi, mbona mimi mnanichuja," he says.

"Ata sisi watu wafupi tunaeza kazi," he lamented.

The young man's tribulations can be understood by many of us who have gone to "try their luck" in getting a job in the police service.

Back then (2018) when yours truly was young and still learning what life is really about, I decided to also go and try my luck.

Well, the courage came from my friends who time and again encouraged me to join the service.

"Hio height yako ni ya GSU, kwanza ata utawekwa RECCE Company wewe," one said.

Another told me I would automatically join the Presidential Protection Detail.

And so I thought to myself, why not.

I made my way to Afraha Stadium where there was a mammoth crowd, all of whom were hoping to be selected to join the National Police Service.

The registration process was smooth, all documents were in order, and I knew all was well.

Then we were supposed to run, and I almost lost count of the number of laps we had to run around that field.

Let me tell you Maina, I am no Kipchoge, but that day I ran like my life depended on it.

My determination paid off, and I was among the first 20 people number 11 to be specific and there and then I knew we had made it.

As I stood with the group, a policeman came and randomly selected people from the group.

Some of us were moved to the left while a few others were moved to the right.

"Hayaa, nyinyi wengine mwende huko (pointing at us) alafu nyinyi wengine mnifuate," he said.

We were told to go back to the rest of the group.

And for a moment I was confused. It then hit me, enyewe hapa deal imeungua.

But why were some of those who finished behind me selected?

Why did this person pick people who were shorter than me?

These were the questions that were running through my mind as I slowly walked back to the hostels.

So to the young man who was frustrated for being denied a job, I can relate.