A fourth-year student at Meru University of Science and Technology was arrested this week, accused of masterminding an online syndicate that sold fake Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) exam papers.
The suspect, Chrispinus Nandafu Naisuma, was detained in Kianjai, Tigania West Sub-County. Detectives say he posed as various identities online — “Dr. Ibrahim,” “Madam Salim,” “Chat GPT,” and “Violent Kathini Mwendwa” — to dupe customers into buying counterfeit exam materials.
“He operated multiple personas to lure unsuspecting buyers,” one investigating officer told journalists.
During the raid, authorities seized 29 Airtel SIM cards, six mobile phones, two laptops, and assorted Safaricom and Telkom SIMs. These items are said to have been central to his scheme.
Naisuma is now in custody as authorities prepare to formally charge him in court.
A growing crackdown
This arrest comes amid a broader joint operation by the DCI and KNEC, targeting individuals and networks peddling fake exam content. Public warnings have intensified: KNEC insists that official examinations are tightly controlled and safeguarded.
In recent statements, KNEC reiterated that all genuine exams are administered under strict security protocols to prevent leaks or fraud.
Exam fraud strikes at the heart of educational integrity. Students who obtain exam materials dishonestly gain unfair advantage; honest students are devalued. Moreover, institutions and future employers cannot trust certificates issued under such tainted conditions.
Still, observers warn that the pressure to perform, combined with inadequacies in oversight, can tempt students and fraudsters alike.
One education analyst, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “When poorly supervised systems intersect with high stakes, there’s always opportunity for abuse.”
At this stage, Naisuma is merely a suspect. He has not yet been found guilty in a court of law. Kenyan law guarantees him the right to a fair hearing, legal representation, and the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.
If convicted, he could face serious penalties under statutes concerning fraud, forgery, and the unauthorized handling of official examination materials.
Meanwhile, the public is urged to steer clear of offers to purchase “genuine exam papers” from unofficial sources. KNEC and the DCI say they will press on with enforcement.
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