The National Police Service (NPS) has issued a public warning over the rising number of fake police social media accounts, cautioning that thousands of Kenyans may already have interacted with fraudulent pages posing as official police platforms.
In a statement released on Tuesday, December 2, NPS revealed that several misleading pages and profiles across major platforms are impersonating the service some spreading false information, while others attempt to scam unsuspecting citizens.
“We have identified numerous fake or pseudo accounts purporting to represent the National Police Service,” the statement noted. “These pages are designed to mislead, defraud or misinform the public.”
NPS urged Kenyans to be extremely cautious and avoid following, engaging with, or sharing personal information with fake police social media accounts. Some look professional enough to fool even experienced users.
The police clarified that they operate only three official, verified accounts on Facebook, X, and TikTok each marked with a blue verification badge.
Fake Police Social Media Accounts Gaining Traction
One of the most troubling cases involves a Facebook page with more than 400,000 followers. The page brands itself as a “police media” outlet and frequently posts updates on recruitment and security operations yet it has no links to the National Police Service.
The surge in fake police social media accounts comes at a sensitive time, with police issuing frequent updates following tense by-elections across the country. Authorities fear that misinformation circulating through these pages could escalate tensions or mislead the public during emergencies.
How Kenyans Can Stay Safe Online
The NPS is urging the public to verify any account before trusting or acting on its content. Suspicious platforms should be reported directly through the social media reporting tools or via the police toll-free numbers 999, 911, and 112.
The service has pledged to continue monitoring the situation but emphasized that safer digital spaces require cooperation from all Kenyans.
“Your caution is your first line of defence,” NPS concluded.
