Ignore fake job advert claiming Kenya's electricity monopoly is hiring nationwide
IN SHORT: A viral advertisement claims that Kenya Power is recruiting for 241 positions nationwide. But it is fake. The state-owned company has disowned the ad and warned the public to be wary of scams.
A job advertisement making the rounds on Facebook claims that Kenya's leading energy provider is looking to fill 241 positions across the country.
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The positions at Kenya Power include technicians, technicians, accountants, customer service representatives, managers, clerks and support staff.
The advert invites applications to "[email protected]" by 16 January 2025.
According to its website, Kenya Power supplies electricity to over 9.6 million customers. It has 10,437 employees, according to its most recent annual report, and notes that it requires 13,419 employees to function effectively.
So is the company looking to hire more staff to plug the gap?
This job ad appears here and here. (Note: See more instances at the end of the report.)
Fake job ad
A look at Kenya Power's LinkedIn profile and careers page on its official website does not show any matching listings, which raises suspicions.
Additionally, Kenya Power email addresses usually end with the official domain, @kplc.co.ke, as seen on the utility's website, not the @outlook.com address. So, the emails listed in the ad don't appear to be genuine.
The job ad also has other red flags that indicate it may be fraudulent or, at the very least, suspicious. These include grammatical and formatting issues such as:
- "Applications to reach us through email address" instead of "Applications should be sent to the email address".
- "By latest 16 January 2025" instead of "No later than 16 January 2025".
Kenya Power posted the circulating job advertisement on its X handle and stamped it "FAKE".
"#KaaRada #UsikubaliConmen," the utility wrote. The mix of Kiswahili and local sheng languages translates to "#BeVigilant #Don'tacceptConmen".
When you come across job adverts online, here are some signs to look out for to spot potential scams:
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- Email domain: Look out for email addresses that use free services like Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook instead of an official company domain (for example, @kplc.co.ke). Legitimate companies usually use their branded domain in official communications.
- Grammar and spelling errors: Professional companies maintain high standards in their communications. A job ad with typos or unprofessional formatting is often a red flag.
- Vague job descriptions: Scams often provide limited information about specific job roles, qualifications, or responsibilities. Genuine job postings typically give clear details on job descriptions and requirements.
- Request for sensitive information: Be cautious if the ad asks for personal information upfront, such as your national identification number, bank details, or copies of personal identification, especially early in the application process.
- Application process: Genuine job ads will usually direct you to the company's official website or a recognised job portal to apply. Ads that only ask for email responses are more likely to be scams.
- Urgent or pushy language: Scammers often try to create a sense of urgency to pressure applicants into responding quickly without due diligence. Legitimate employers will rarely require an applicant to give an immediate response.
- Check with official sources: If you're unsure, visit the company's official website to confirm if the job listing appears in their careers section or reach out to their human resources department for verification.
The fake job ad also appears here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
