Police are in hot pursuit of the masterminds of cheating in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination through leaks that have so far seen several teachers and security personnel arraigned in court.
According to details, detectives have identified two suspects — one in Nairobi and the other upcountry — who they believe were behind the incident in Kisii where 17 people were caught red-handed on Monday filling in answer sheets before distributing them to students.
Arrests of the masterminds, whose identities were not revealed for fear of compromising the hunt, could be made as early as Thursday.
In the intensified crackdown, the Principal of Shamte Academy, Mr Salim Mango, and four teachers were charged before Kakamega Principal Magistrate Hazel Wandere with allowing unauthorised people to access examination materials and to enter an examination centre. Among the four teachers was the deputy.
Four other accused, Press Dence, Nelson Sakwa, Nessy Georgeus and Modican Mosy, were charged with being in possession of examination materials without lawful authority.
They were remanded until November 14 after they failed to raise a cash bail of Sh50,000.
It has also emerged that key suspects have already been identified together with their accomplices. The key suspects are believed to be working with some centre managers, who are also school principals, to ensure that supervisors, invigilators and police officers agree to open the materials before time.
They then mark the answer sheets with the correct responses and present them to candidates in the examination hall.
Previously, suspects used to get materials from rogue Knec officials, but they are now targeting head teachers, the only people authorized to receive materials on behalf of schools.
“We have not witnessed any leak so far except for a few cases where field officers open exam materials before time,” Knec chairman George Magoha said.
At least 31 people suspected of involvement in examination irregularities have been arrested countrywide. They include 24 teachers, four policemen, a bursar and two photocopyists.
In Kisii, 17 suspects were arrested on Monday after they were found with copies of a Chemistry exam paper that was being done at the time. They were caught working out the answers in a house neighbouring the school.