The University of Nairobi (UoN) has warned of a fake admission advertisement targeting incoming first-year students that is circulating on social media, urging the public to avoid engaging with it.
The message, styled as an official notice, instructs students to download their admission letters from the university portal using their KCSE index numbers.
In a firm statement issued on July 21, UoN declared the message fraudulent and cautioned students against falling for the scam.
“The University of Nairobi wishes to inform all applicants that the admission message circulating on social media is FAKE,” the statement read.
“Students should strictly follow instructions issued through the university’s verified Facebook page, X (Twitter) account, or SMS notifications.”
Many students had reportedly begun clicking suspicious links and entering personal information—some without verifying the source.
Sharon Mwikali, 18, from Machakos, is among the students who nearly fell for it.
“I was so happy when I saw the message. I thought, ‘This is it. I’ve made it,’” she said. “I had already typed in my index number before something told me to double-check with the university’s Twitter page. That’s when I realised it was fake.”
For Sharon’s mother, a small-scale trader, the moment was heartbreaking. “We celebrated too early,” she said. “I even called my relatives. We had no idea people could be this cruel to children who are eager and want to go to school.”
Across the country, similar stories played out. In Kisumu, Brian Odongo and his parents had gathered around a neighbour’s smartphone, trying to access the so-called admission portal. “It asked for a small ‘portal activation fee,’” Brian recalled. “That’s when I knew something wasn’t right. UoN has never charged us for logging in before.”
According to sources within the admissions office, UoN is now working closely with cybercrime investigators to track the origin of the fake communication. The goal is not only to protect students, but also to prevent the spread of further misinformation during what is already a sensitive transition period for many families.
A senior admissions officer at the university, who spoke anonymously, emphasised the damage such scams can cause.
“We understand how hard families have worked to get these students here. It’s not just about downloading a letter—it’s about hope, dignity, and trust. These fake messages don’t just mislead; they rob people of their peace of mind.”
Meanwhile, students have been asked to exercise patience and caution. Admission letters for the 2025 intake will be uploaded to the official UoN student portal once the internal verification process is complete.
For Sharon and others like her, the experience has been a lesson in digital caution—but it hasn’t dimmed the excitement.
“I still can’t wait to wear that University of Nairobi T-shirt,” she said, smiling. “I know my real letter is coming soon—and this time, it’ll be real.”
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