NAIROBI, KENYA – Authorities have arrested five individuals from Rachar Secondary School in connection with an alleged coordinated examination cheating scheme that compromised the integrity of the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
The suspects, who include the school principal, examination supervisors, and support staff, were apprehended following irregularities detected on the second day of the national examinations. The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are treating the case as a serious breach of examination security.
Those arrested include Patrick Omondi, the school principal and centre manager; Victor Amollo, centre supervisor; Paul Akumba, an invigilator; Faith Odhiambo, the school secretary; and Milicent Awino Oluoch, a school cook.
Authorities believe the suspects used their respective positions to orchestrate a complex operation involving premature access to examination materials and distribution of answers to candidates. The involvement of individuals from various levels of the school hierarchy suggests this was not an isolated incident but rather a carefully planned operation.
The suspects allegedly distributed questions and pre-worked answers through digital platforms including WhatsApp and Telegram. The involvement of non-teaching staff such as the school secretary and cook is particularly concerning, as it suggests an elaborate, whole-school operation.
In similar past cases, such individuals have served as intermediaries or couriers, smuggling examination materials out of secure areas for photocopying before returning them with answers.
Candidates at Rachar Secondary School have been allowed to continue with their examinations as investigations proceed. However, the scandal raises serious questions about the validity of results from the affected examination center.
KNEC has previously implemented various security measures including the use of special paper, watermarks, and strict protocols for the handling and storage of examination materials. However, cases like the Rachar Secondary School incident demonstrate that internal collusion remains a significant vulnerability that is difficult to prevent through technological means alone.
As investigations continue, KNEC has urged examination centers across the country to remain vigilant and strictly adhere to all examination protocols to prevent similar incidents.
By Nairobi