Police have arrested a university student accused of running an elaborate online scam selling fake Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) papers.
According to a statement by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspect, Chrispinus Nandafu Naisuma, a fourth-year student at Meru University of Science and Technology, was arrested in Kianjai, Tigania West Sub-County, following an operation by detectives.
The DCI said Nandafu is the mastermind behind an online syndicate operating under the banner “The Teacher’s KNEC Exam 2025.”
“He runs the platform using multiple online personas, Dr. Ibrahim, Madam Salim, Chat GPT, and Violent Kathini Mwendwa, conning unsuspecting members of the public into buying fake exam papers in the false hope of academic shortcuts,” the DCI stated.
During the arrest, detectives recovered 29 Airtel SIM cards, six mobile phones, two laptops, and several Safaricom and Telkom SIM cards, among other items believed to have been used in the scam.
Nandafu is currently in custody, undergoing processing pending arraignment.
Meanwhile, the DCI and KNEC have intensified a joint crackdown on individuals and syndicates peddling fake examination materials across the country.
“Members of the public are warned against engaging with fraudsters claiming to sell genuine examination papers. All official exams are securely administered and protected by strict integrity measures,” the DCI added.
The arrest comes days after KNEC CEO David Njeng’ere said security will be a top priority during the 2025 national examinations, with the addition of 25 exam storage containers, raising the total to 642.
These containers will be secured by 2,568 police officers, while digital smart padlocks will be piloted in 250 containers to safeguard exam materials. Officers in charge of the locks will undergo specialized training.
To prevent leaks, KNEC will continue the double collection system for morning and afternoon KCSE papers, a practice credited with eliminating early exposure.
Njeng’ere also stressed the critical role of teachers as frontline defenders of exam integrity.
“They are the only persons in direct contact with candidates, and their responsibility in preventing irregularities cannot be overstated,” he said.