The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has issued a red alert over a sophisticated job scam targeting thousands of unemployed Kenyans. With by-elections looming in Isiolo South and other wards, fraudsters are circulating fake recruitment adverts for polling clerks and presiding officers, demanding "application fees" ranging from Sh1,500 to Sh3,000.

IEBC CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan confirmed that the commission has not yet advertised any temporary positions. "These are criminals preying on the desperation of our youth," Marjan said. "The IEBC does not charge a fee for job applications. Any such request is a scam."

The Digital Trap

The syndicate uses convincing replicas of the IEBC website and letterheads, circulating links via WhatsApp groups and social media. Victims are asked to send money to a personal M-PESA number to "process their badges."

• Scale of the Scam: Police cybercrime units estimate that over 500 people have already been duped in the last week alone. The scammers are capitalizing on the high anxiety surrounding the upcoming mini-polls.
• Official Channels: The commission urged the public to verify all job advertisements through the official IEBC website and verified social media handles.

The scam adds another layer of challenge to the electoral body, which is already struggling with budget cuts and a trust deficit. For the jobless youth losing their last coins to these conmen, it is a bitter reminder of the country’s employment crisis.