Six people have been arrested and arraigned in court for selling fake Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam papers.
In a statement, the DCI revealed that it had nabbed the 6 who have been operating various Telegram accounts in an intensified crackdown designed to ensure the integrity of the ongoing examinations.
Among those arrested are 2 students from a college in Thika and a 20-year-old social media admin.
''Six social media admins for various Telegram sites involved in examination malpractices in the ongoing KCSE national examinations have been arrested in the ongoing crackdown on perpetrators,'' the DCI revealed in its statement.
The DCI revealed that the multi-agency operation was conducted by DCI detectives alongside Communications Authority (CA), telco operators after Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC's) monitoring team identified over 32 social media (SM) platforms being used to share, sell & post fake exam papers.
According to DCI, KNEC had raised the red flag about 32 platforms used by the suspects and their associates to sell fake exam papers.
Following this communication, the DCI initiated an investigation into the syndicate that led to the arrest of various suspects including one known as 'Mr Examiner' who was apprehended before the exams started.
The DCI stated that by November 6, six more suspects were selling fake exam papers to unsuspecting Kenyans with one of the main suspects being identified as 'Prof Martinez'
''Among the suspects stood out the notorious Prof Martinez, who operated one of the most sought-after Telegram groups - The Teacher's Updates - with a following in excess of 18,000. In his group, he called upon teachers, parents, and students to "relax, we are here,'' said the DCI in their statement.
The DCI further warned any person venturing into the fraudulent business and advised students to avoid the illusion that there could be a shortcut to passing the national examinations.
The KCSE exams commenced on Monday with a total of 903,260 candidates sitting for the national exams.
However, heavy rainfall being experienced in different parts of the country threatened exam delivery to various centers.
