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The Kenya Defence Forces have been recruiting barubaru men and women for general duties, as tradesmen and for constabularies.
And you must have a photo of a hopeful with mouth wide open, right? It is not to check whether the would-be soldier brushes teeth thrice a day, but rather, whether there are 32 teeth in there.
The logic is that when teeth start falling (recruits must be aged between 18 and 26), then the person must be sick elsewhere yet the army requires very healthy kurutus to withstand the rigours of eliminating external aggression, seeing as it is, the world exists in a state of anarchy.
The kurutu must have no criminal record. They must be tall, 5’3” for that towering presence above average citizens. You must not weigh above 55 kilos.
Fighting in a jungle sees soldiers carrying 50 kilos on their backs, besides the G3 rifle weighing five kilos. Women must not be pregnant, and no flat feet are allowed.
But have you ever wondered why military officers and the police sport the crew cut? You can always tell a karao or army guys from their hair cut.
The crew cut in which the hair is thinned from the nape upwards with a short pomp at the dome is common in all military units the world over and not just down these shores.
It has existed since the 18th century, when Kenya was just a geographical expression. The hair must never be more than two inches long.
Reasons for short hair included getting rid of chawa - that can spread easily in the barracks - and when fighting in jungles where there are no barbers.
For jungus, their long hair might have been blown to the face when they were taking aim, but the psychological reasons for the crew cut is to prepare the kurutu for a life outside civilian lines.
This explains why there are induction (near kipara) haircut, regulation (normal) military) haircut, the fade and the crew cut.
These hairstyles are for uniformity and conformity. The crew cut goes well with great grooming that instils discipline, self-control and diligence.
Women have to pull their hair back and weaves are a no-no.
But the higher you go in military ranks, the less time you spend in war, and the more hair you have.
