The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has issued a stern warning to the public about a fraudulent scheme exploiting the name of the government’s Inua Jamii programme. The scam, operating under the alias Inua Jamii Foundation Empowerment, has been spreading through WhatsApp, falsely promising financial support to unsuspecting Kenyans.
In an official statement, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs, Joseph Motari, clarified that the so-called foundation is not recognized by the Government of Kenya.
“No such organisation exists under the Government of Kenya,” PS Motari emphasized, urging the public to remain vigilant. He noted that all legitimate updates about Inua Jamii and other cash transfer programmes are communicated solely through official government channels, including the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs.
The scam has reportedly targeted vulnerable citizens, luring them with false promises of aid and requesting fees for registration or processing. Such tactics are commonly used by fraudsters who impersonate legitimate institutions to gain victims’ trust.
Motari further cautioned Kenyans to disregard any unsolicited messages, links, or forwarded posts on WhatsApp and other social media platforms claiming to offer government support from the fake foundation. He confirmed that investigations are already underway in collaboration with law enforcement and cybersecurity agencies.
“This advisory is part of our broader efforts to protect vulnerable communities from falling prey to scammers exploiting government programmes,” he said.
The Ministry is calling on the public to report any suspicious messages or activities to relevant authorities and to rely only on credible sources for information on government social protection initiatives.
Online scams in Kenya have been on the rise, often involving fake grants and cash transfer offers. Fraudsters typically ask victims for money in the form of application or facilitation fees, only to disappear afterward.
Kenyans are advised to be alert, skeptical of too-good-to-be-true offers, and always confirm details through official government platforms to avoid falling victim to such scams.
