Huduma Kenya has warned members of the public and its employees about a fraudulent email account being used to impersonate the agency’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
In a notice issued on Monday, August 17, Huduma Kenya urged recipients to exercise caution when dealing with emails or other messages claiming to originate from the Office of the CEO. The agency specifically warned against responding to suspicious communication or disclosing sensitive information.
“Huduma Kenya wishes to notify the public on fraudulent emails impersonating the Office of the CEO. Please be cautious of any suspicious communication or other sensitive details,” the agency stated.
The warning followed reports from some Huduma Kenya employees who had received emails from an account purporting to represent the CEO’s office.
Huduma Kenya identified the suspicious correspondence and clarified that the email address being used by the impersonator is not an authorised communication channel.
“The official email address for the CEO is ceo@hudumakenya.go.ke. Members of the public are urged to verify email addresses before responding to any communication claiming to originate from Huduma Kenya,” the notice read.
The agency advised anyone who receives an email claiming to come from its CEO to carefully check the sender’s address before taking any action. Recipients have also been asked not to reply to the suspicious account or provide information requested through it.
What is Huduma Kenya?
Huduma Kenya is a government programme established to improve access to public services by bringing multiple government services together through Huduma Centres and digital platforms.
The programme operates as a one-stop service delivery system, allowing members of the public to access various government services without having to visit different government offices separately.
Its services include assistance with applications and processing of documents and government services such as national identification documents, birth certificates, driving licences, business-related services, and other public services provided by participating government agencies.
Huduma Kenya also provides information and customer support through its contact and digital service channels, helping citizens understand the requirements and procedures for accessing government services.
Because of the range of services associated with its name, the agency has previously been targeted by individuals seeking to defraud members of the public.
In February, Huduma Kenya issued a separate warning over a recruitment scam targeting jobseekers. Fraudsters were reportedly circulating fake appointment letters allegedly signed by the Director General and promising recipients immediate deployment to Huduma Centres across the country.
The agency clarified at the time that it was not conducting mass recruitment and urged members of the public to disregard the purported employment offers.
Huduma Kenya further advised the public to rely on its verified communication platforms for information relating to its operations, recruitment and services. These include its official website, Huduma Contact and Tele-Counselling Centre.
The latest incident has renewed concerns over attempts to exploit the Huduma Kenya brand and the identities of senior officials to make fraudulent communication appear legitimate.
The agency has urged anyone who receives suspicious correspondence claiming to originate from the Office of the CEO to avoid engaging with the sender or sharing personal, financial or other sensitive information.
Recipients who encounter the fraudulent communication have also been advised to report it to the Huduma Kenya ICT department for investigation and appropriate action.
