A woman from Kabarnet in Baringo County has been left devastated after falling victim to a fake Teachers Service Commission (TSC) job scam that cost her all her savings.
Mary Chebet, a trained teacher and mother of two, received a message promising her a TSC job appointment. The message, allegedly from a TSC official, claimed her appointment letter was ready and asked her to send Ksh 50,000 to secure the offer.
Eager for employment and hopeful for a better future, Mary believed the offer was genuine. She sold her late mother’s goat and borrowed the remaining amount from a neighbour to raise the Ksh 50,000. She sent the money through M-Pesa, expecting to receive her appointment letter soon.
However, after sending the money, communication with the sender ceased. Days turned into weeks, and the number was unreachable. Mary eventually realized she had been conned.
Reports from Baringo and Kericho counties reveal that several other unemployed graduates received similar messages and lost money in the same scam. The fraudsters, believed to be two middle-aged men posing as TSC insiders, were reportedly seen spending the stolen money in a hotel in Kericho.
The Teachers Service Commission has since issued a warning, distancing itself from the fake recruitment scheme.
“TSC does not charge any money for job appointments. All official communications are done through our verified platforms,” a TSC spokesperson clarified.
Police investigations are ongoing, but no arrests have been made so far.
Teachers’ unions and concerned citizens are now urging the government to take urgent action against such scams and to create support systems for victims like Mary.
“These scams are ruining lives. It’s time the government stepped in to protect job seekers,” said a local union leader.
