Three university students arraigned over multi-million KSCE exam ‘leakage’ scam

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have arrested three people in connection with a dubious exam leakage scam.

According to a police report on Monday, the three suspects who were arraigned on Monday are all students from the Egerton University.

Detectives said the three faced charges of obtaining millions of shillings from parents and KCSE candidates via Telegram forums in the pretext that they would sell them examination materials for the forthcoming national examinations.

"Detectives attached to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) launched investigations into the scam last week and have so far arrested the three who are based at the university’s main campus in Njoro, Nakuru County," the report from DCI reads.

The syndicate's mastermind, Kelvin Anunda Mogaka, alias Prof Lenchodas, 24, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Education student was, according to reports, lured into a trap by the detectives on Thursday night, and led them to his house in Njoro, Nakuru County.

Several photos that detectives shared on Twitter showed the main suspect lived large in Njoro, and was in the process of putting up a modest country home.

Mogaka, the prime suspect reportedly operated two Telegram channels with over 13,000 followers; detectives believe he used these channels to obtain millions of shillings from guileless victims.

According to detectives familiar with the matter, a cache of SIM cards, and identity cards that the suspect had used to open fraudulent MPESA and bank accounts where the received money would be deposited were seized during the raid at his house.

"In one such account at Equity bank Kisii branch belonging to his brother who is a teacher in Mogongo Girls Secondary School, about Sh2 Million was flagged by the detectives who also discovered that the suspect also operated a similar account at the Kisii KCB branch," the police report says.

"The Telegram groups contained instructions on how payments would be made with members being cautioned to strictly follow the procedure to save time. “Avoid many stories, all papers are available,” read one of the messages in the telegram group," it adds.

The suspect’s kin told detectives that Mogaka had earlier informed him that he hit the jackpot after a successful bet and would be sending him money to put up a house for him at their home in Mosocho, Nyamira County.

When the detectives visited the homestead in Nyamusi, they confirmed that indeed the fourth-year student was in the process of putting up a “modest house” in the village.

The suspects were released on a Ksh.1 million bond or Ksh.500,000 with surety of the same amount.

Parents and students have meanwhile been cautioned not to join such fraudulent groups but be honest and prepare for the forthcoming examinations adequately.