Detectives drawn from the Criminal Investigation Department have arrested a 23-year-old teacher for allegedly selling exam leakages for the ongoing and upcoming national examinations.
Nicholas Ngumbao Kalewa, who works as a CRE teacher at St. Lilian Academy in Gikambura Village, was arrested after investigations were conducted by detectives assigned to the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC).
Detectives posing as students infiltrated over 10 WhatsApp and Telegram groups where he had members whom he targeted with the alleged exam papers.
The CRE teacher alias 'Mr Examiner' in his groups had set the price of fake exam papers at Ksh1,500 per paper with a complete exam paper with a marking scheme going Ksh2,000.
''In the typical conman’s language, he cautioned the over 900 parents and students in the group not to introduce other matters, as he was busy attending to those who were willing to buy,'' partly read the DCI statement.
''The suspect’s plans were however nipped in the bud when detectives infiltrated the groups posing as students who had not done their revision and wanted to reap where they hadn’t sown,'' DCI stated.
Affirming his authenticity and in typical scamming language, the teacher cautioned the members to avoid other sellers as they would be scammed.
“Avoid many stories in my inbox. I have many clients,” said the religious education teacher in one of his curt responses seen by detectives.
DCI further revealed that Kalewa was using stolen identity cards to register SIM cards and had opened a bank account with a till-pay bill where payment for the money would be sent.
After gathering info on the suspect's operations, they launched an immediate manhunt in Gikambura Kiambu County, where he was arrested in possession of several SIM cards.
Detectives announced that the Examinations Council has put up a formidable team with mechanisms as they look to uphold the integrity of the upcoming KIPSEA and KCSE to minimize cases of irregularities.
The Ministry of Education also unveiled new strict exam guidelines for candidates while outlining stiff penalties for those caught in exam cheating.
Among the new guidelines was barring teachers and students from entering the exam rooms with handbags, briefcases, backpacks, and kiondos.
