Exam Cheating Scandal: 70 Teachers Arrested and a Suspect Caught in KCSE Fraud

A significant scandal has rocked the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, with 70 teachers arrested and many charged for aiding in cheating. These educators, along with centre managers, invigilators, and supervisors, have been accused of orchestrating schemes to help students secure better grades dishonestly. The Nyanza region has reported the highest number of cases. Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang criticized adults, particularly parents, for their role in enabling exam malpractice, urging them to uphold integrity and avoid compromising the process.

In a related incident, Collins Kipchumba, a 23-year-old graduate of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, was arrested for running an online scam selling fake KCSE exam papers. Using social media platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp, Kipchumba allegedly exploited gullible parents and students eager for shortcuts to success. He acquired and sold images of exam papers taken by rogue invigilators after distribution, deceiving buyers into believing they had pre-circulated copies. Kipchumba’s activities violated Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) regulations, and he faces multiple charges, including possession of unauthorized exam materials and defrauding the public.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) linked Kipchumba to a Telegram group with over 80,000 members and a WhatsApp group with 800 participants. These groups were platforms for sharing and profiting from exam malpractice. Despite stricter exam protocols, the scandal underscores systemic weaknesses and the growing challenge of digital fraud. Authorities have vowed to intensify efforts to protect the integrity of national exams and hold all perpetrators accountable.