Kenyans have been warned to be on the lookout for fraudulent social media accounts impersonating the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO).
In an official notice, KALRO disowned several Facebook accounts falsely operating under its name, logo, and branding, cautioning Kenyans not to engage with or share personal details through the illegitimate platforms.
“These accounts are not affiliated with KALRO. Any information shared by these fake accounts is not authorised by the organisation, and it shall not be liable for any misleading content, claims, or transactions made through them,” the statement read in part.
The scam appears to be preying on social media users interested in agricultural opportunities, with the fake page offering livestock, job opportunities, and farm inputs, often demanding mobile money payments or personal information upfront.
KALRO, a state corporation responsible for agriculture and livestock research, emphasised that all its official communications are channelled through verified platforms.
“We are urging members of the public to verify any information before taking action. No genuine KALRO communication will ever ask for payments via private numbers or social media inboxes,” the state agency continued in its warning.
KALRO flagged off some accounts, like the 'KALRO Livestock Farm,' 'KALRO Farm,' and 'KALRO Farm0743,' for aggressive online activity despite having no affiliation with the agency.
Social media users have been advised to report such fake accounts to lodge complaints with KALRO through their official email or phone numbers.
Victims of the scam have also been advised to make formal reports to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The warning comes at a time when Kenyans are facing increased instances of online fraud, especially through the impersonation of government agencies.
Cases of phishing and digital extortion schemes targeting individuals and public institutions alike have also been on the rise, causing alarm in the country.
To ensure Kenyans are not falling victim to such activities, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) has pledged to work with law enforcement and affected agencies to track down the perpetrators behind these impersonation campaigns.
