The National Police Service (NPS) has cautioned members of the public against interacting with multiple fake social media accounts impersonating Deputy Inspector General – Kenya Police Service, Douglas Kanja.
In a statement on Friday, September 1, the police service said the accounts were run by imposters keen to defraud unsuspecting netizens.
The police urged the general public to treat the Facebook accounts with contempt, saying the police boss is not on social media.
“The existing accounts are maintained by imposters with criminal intent to defraud unsuspecting Kenyans,” NPS said, “Please note that DIG-KPS does not operate any social media account.”
NPS also called on the public to report the accounts so that Facebook can take them down.
“These fake accounts go against Facebook Community Standards,” NPS added.
Disclaimer…!!!🚨
— National Police Service-Kenya (@NPSOfficial_KE) September 1, 2023
We wish to caution the general public against interacting with the multiple fake accounts purporting to belong to the Deputy Inspector General-Kenya Police Service, Mr Douglas Kanja. pic.twitter.com/3ePGAf4st8
Kanja was appointed deputy IG by President William Ruto in April this year. He took over from Edward Mbugua who proceeded on retirement.
Prior to his promotion, Kanja served as the General Service Unit (GSU) Commandant.
Several police bosses have also been victims of impersonation in the recent past.
Last month, the police service was forced to clarify that IG Japheth Koome is not on social media following a surge in fake accounts impersonating him.
In November last year, NPS said a Facebook account claiming to belong to National Police Service Spokesperson Resila Antieno Onyango was fake.
“We urge the public to desist interacting with the imposters, as we liaise with other agencies for appropriate action on the pages and their handlers,” NPS cautioned.
