IN SHORT: Beware of posts on Facebook claiming to offer loans to Kenya’s vulnerable and poor in the name of the country’s first lady Rachel Ruto.
A Facebook account called HE Rachael Chebet Loan claims to offer loans to help the poor in Kenya through a taxpayer-funded social protection scheme known as Inua Jamii.
Inua Jamii loosely translates from Kiswahili as “uplift the community”. Its goal is to improve the lives of underprivileged and vulnerable Kenyans through regular cash transfers. These include elderly people, people with severe disabilities, orphans and vulnerable children.
On 15 December 2022 the account posted: “Good morning and congratulations kwa Wale ambao walipokea loan Kama uko online na hukupokea loan Kutoka INUA JAMII LOAN from ksh10,000 to ksh150,000 na uko online Sasa hivi comment na #YES MUM or call my secretary 0763557331 or whatsap 0763557331 BUSINESS LOAN PERSONAL LOAN SCHOOL FEES EMERGENCIES.”
This translates as: “Good morning and congratulations to those that received loan If you are online and didn’t receive a loan from Inua Jamii Loan from KSh10,000 to KSh150,000 comment with #YES MUM or call my secretary 0763557331 or WhatsApp 0763557331 BUSINESS LOAN PERSONAL LOAN SCHOOL FEES EMERGENCIES.”
The post included a photo of Rachel Ruto, married to Kenyan president William Ruto. Chebet is Rachel Ruto’s maiden name.
The post was also published on several public Facebook groups, with tens of thousands of members combined, including here, here,…
