Police in Busia have arrested a male suspect for impersonating a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidate.
The suspect namely George Barasa Makokha, a Luhya male adult, impersonated a private candidate at Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School.
According to police report, Makokha was sitting for English paper one for the KCSE candidate.
“Police officers from Busia Police Station guarding the English Paper One was informed by the centre manager that there was a suspect who was impersonating a private candidate and writing the exam on his behalf,” read the police report.
“On receiving the report, the county security team led by the DCC and SCPC rushed to the centre and the suspect namely George Barasa Makokha, a Luhya male adult and who upon interrogation, disclosed that he had been sent by a candidate of Index Number 35960101026 registered for Busia sub-county private namely Josephat Basoga Makokha and who is the suspects father,” added the report.
The suspect was escorted to the station and placed in custody and will be charged for the offence of intent to impersonate not being the registered candidate in contravention of section 30(c) of the KNEC Act.
The police have advised all exam administrators/security to be extra vigilant on matters of exam malpractices.
Meanwhile, in Kisii, police have arrested a Kisii University student for impersonating a KCSE candidate.
Brian Angwenyi, 20, was sitting the English Paper One for a KCSE candidate at Kiamabundu High School in Kisii Central, Nyaribari Chache.
The candidate is on the run while the suspect is being grilled at DCI offices at Kisii Central Police Station.
Area Sub-County Police chief Peter Kimani said they are drafting up charges, adding that the suspect will be arraigned upon completion of investigations.
Separately, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has issued a stun warning over exam cheating after two students writing their KCSE exams were caught with mobile phones.
While overseeing the exercise in Mombasa, Magoha said the two cases were reported in Nairobi.
He further warned teachers and supervisors of serious consequences should they be found leaking the national examinations.
“We have not had any serious incident. We dismantled the cartels in primary school exams. We have noticed that they have formed another one. This morning we have two cases of students with cellphones. We shall allow them to take the exams but I want to send a warning any teacher who feels brave enough and opens the exam papers beforehand – we shall come for you,” Magoha warned.
Over 800,000 students begin their 2021 KCSE theory examinations today until April 1.
The examination, which will be administered in 10,413 centres, will see candidates sit the English Paper One then Chemistry Paper One.