IEBC Flags Fake Recruitment Drive Weeks to By-Election

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has cautioned Kenyans against a false alert circulating on social media about job opportunities.

In the advert, which the commission has since flagged as fake, the fraudsters were targeting  Kenyans ahead of planned by-elections in February 2026.The advert targeted the recruitment of polling personnel and assistants, as well as other vacant positions that it did not clarify.

"In preparation for the upcoming elections, IEBC has launched a recruitment process to fill several vacant positions across the country. shortlisted candidates will be notified via email," the fake advert stated.

The fraudsters used the IEBC's official logo and colours, presumably to throw off unsuspecting online users and entice them to apply.

IEBC advised the public to check its official websites and verified social media platforms for accurate and updated information and openings. It also emphasised that its official jobs portal was jobs.iebc.or.ke, where legitimate job adverts and application details are posted.

The IEBC announcement aims to protect Kenyans from falling victim to these scams by urging them to confirm the authenticity of job adverts before responding and to rely on official platforms for accurate recruitment information.

Before issuing the warning, the electoral body had announced that it was receiving applications from eligible organisations seeking accreditation as election observers and media practitioners for the upcoming mini-polls scheduled for February 2026.

According to the commission’s official jobs portal, no other vacancies were available at the time of publication. The last recruitment exercise by the commission was conducted in October 2025, ahead of the November by-elections and the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) drive.

Besides IEBC, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has also been the subject of various fraud schemes. The authority has flagged several portals and websites that fraudsters have used to con unsuspecting drivers. The authority has urged the victims to report the matter to the nearest police station.

Other government agencies and co-operations that have also recently issued scam alerts after fake recruitment links and adverts claiming job vacancies were shared online include Kenya Railways and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

To verify if the job advert is real or fake, always look at the official website of the advertising agency and check whether such openings exist. Also, check on the agency's verified social media accounts.