The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has issued a warning to members of the public regarding an alleged large-scale recruitment drive for game rangers.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 8, the KWS distanced itself from the recruitment drive, which was widely shared on social media hours earlier.
"Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) warns the public against fake recruitment messages circulating on social media and other social platforms. These messages are false and do not originate from the Service," a statement from the KWS read.
In the false recruiting effort, which originated from an online portal called 'Opportunities for Youth', candidates were encouraged to apply for a game ranger post, claiming that there were 150 posts available.
The fake notice also falsely claimed that the drive was 'part of a national effort to boost wildlife conservation through a well-trained ranger workforce'.
To further entice applicants, the notice detailed a monthly salary ranging from Ksh19,220 to Ksh23,130 while calling for applications from "young, patriotic Kenyans".
The fake drive also included an elaborate list of ranger duties, qualifications and recruitment dates between September 8 and September 18, 2025.
However, while dismissing the recruitment calls as fake, the KWS reiterated that if and when a recruitment drive is scheduled, details are only communicated through the official KWS website, the service's verified social media handles and/or through mainstream newspapers.
A brief spot check of the website providing the fraudulent opportunities was conducted by Kenyans.co.ke. The ad was still active at the time this article was published, possibly deceiving tens of job seekers online.
The fake advertisement also called on applicants to apply for the position of Game Wardens at the entry level, promising a salary ranging from Ksh32,700 to Ksh42,690.
One of the most obvious indicators of a fake posting, according to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), is the presence of grammatical errors within the memo or advertisement. Typically, official statements from state agencies undergo rigorous vetting across various departments, making errors highly unlikely. Memos with glaring mistakes are, therefore, most likely to originate from unreliable sources.
Another key indicator is the use of unofficial language in the text, especially in matters involving the state.
Memos and circulars that are rigged with informal lingo, which appear coercive, are more likely to be fake since the state announcements take a specific language that is likely to appeal to everyone.
Fake job adverts tend to have emails comprised of a personal domain, not a corporate one.
