Police Flag New Scam Targeting Recruits

Rigorous exercises conducted in Kisumu on Monday, February 22, during police recruitment
Police recruits being taken through rigorous exercises conducted in Kisumu on Monday, February 22, 2021.
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NPS

The National Police Service (NPS) has warned Kenyans of a new scam targeting the latest cohort of police recruits.

In a statement dated Saturday, July 16, and seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the NPS flagged a fake notice announcing the change of the reporting date for recruits to the National Police Training College in Kiganjo.

The notice - purported to have been signed by police spokesperson, Bruno Shioso - stated that the reporting date had been pushed from July 15 to August 27.

NPS stated that the letter was part of an elaborate scheme to defraud recruits by organizing a separate reporting date drive.

Police Recruitment exercise
Police Recruitment exercise in February 2021.

"We wish to notify the public that this is the work of conmen out to defraud innocent and unsuspecting members of the public under the pretext of recruitment into the police service," the statement read in part.

Police warned members of the public against falling into traps by conmen, affirming that any official communication will be done through the NPS official channels. 

"Further, the public is advised to always do a due diligence on matters of alleged recruitments by confirming with relevant NPS officials sources including NPS website among others."

The fake notice claimed that Interior Cabinet Secretary, Fred Matiang'i, had, through a gazette notice dated July 12, changed the reporting date of scores of police recruits.

In addition, the document had violated the right to privacy in contravention to Article 31 of the Constitution by unlawfully publishing and circulating personal details of the listed recruits.

The article protects Kenyan citizens from having their information published without their express consent.

"Every person has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to have information relating to their family or private affairs unnecessarily required or revealed," reads the article in part.

Recruits and their families of those seeking to join the disciplined forces have been a soft target for fraudsters owing to the hard economic times and high levels of unemployment in the country.

Kenyans queued for jobs during a past recruitment exercise
Kenyans queued for jobs during a past recruitment exercise.
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County Government of Nakuru
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