By JEMEDARI Mwanawakiume
A confidential report prepared by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), says that a cartel lead by at least five key suspects based at the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) is responsible for examination leaks.
The five top officials and their cartel have been known to operate with knowledge not just from the exam body but also from the police.
The five suspects have been identified as A,B,C,D and E in the DCI report.
The cartel works with some school principals and police officers who provide protection for them according to investigations.
The cartel only leaked the papers to those who paid for it and would give ample time for the students study the sold papers.
“In some schools like Sheikh Khalifa in Mombasa County, a specific fee charged on all students annually ends up in the pockets of the Knec security cartel in exchange for examination leakages,” the report read quoted by the Standard.
The report further says that if anyone tried to cross or expose the cartel they would be killed by the cartel.
“Most Knec officers serving today will tell you that you try to stand in the line of the ‘Knec security cartel’ then be ready to pay with your life. They usually attribute the sudden death of a junior officer named Anyona to this vice,” reads the report.
Bribery and nepotism were also reported to have influenced employment of officials at Knec.
Unqualified personnel were given jobs at the examination body and this negatively impacted the organization creating loopholes that were taken advantage by the cartel.
The cartel colluded with school heads and junior staff at Knec to obtain examinations that were highly secured.
School heads found with leaked examination were never charged or fired but instead bribed their way or would be transferred to other schools.
An example of a principal found with examination material was in 2011 from Sawagongo High School in Siaya County.
The school head with leaked examination materials for papers slated for that week and subsequent weeks.
The principal was arrested and locked up in police custody. However, his principal colleagues contributed money and bribed police officers and the said two Knec officers.
The principal was released and he was never charged before a court of law nor the results of the school cancelled.
The cartel according detectives has also influenced the re-setting of examination papers and then selling them for millions of shillings to potential buyers.
Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi on Thursday, March 24, dissolved the Knec board over 2015 KCSE examinations widespread cheating.
Nine top officials, including Knec CEO Joseph Kivilu were ordered by Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery to record statements with the police in relation to the cheating.
The board was also accused of failing to maintain examination standards as per Section 10 of the KNEC Act No. 29 of 2012.
A new board was formed chaired by former University of Nairobi Vice-Chancellor George Magoha.
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