Two Silver Bells Academy directors arraigned in fake KPSEA exam case

Two directors of Silver Bells Academy in Eldoret have been arraigned for failing to register 23 Grade Six candidates for the just concluded Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) examinations.

Margaret Atwoli Indasi and Donald Wikana Lumwaji, who appeared before Eldoret Law Courts Chief Magistrate Dennis Mikoyan on Thursday, were not allowed to take plea in the matter where they allegedly subjected 23 candidates to a fake KPSEA examination.

The Magistrate directed that the suspects be detained at Eldoret Central Police Station until Friday when the court would rule on whether they should be released.

Investigating officer Inyasio Mwaniki attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) unit at Ainabtich Police Station in Moiben sub-county had sought for 14 days to enable them complete their investigations into the matter.

Mwaniki, in his efforts to convince the court to grant him more days to hold the suspects in police custody, explained that they are yet to record statements from the Ministry of Education officials.

Following the Wednesday arrest of the duo, Moiben sub-county Commissioner Dancan Okwach said the directors of the private institution situated at Kimumu Estate on the outskirts of Eldoret city were being questioned for issuing the Grade 6 pupils with photocopies of last year’s KPSEA assessment papers.

Mr. Okwach said the school is not formally registered with the Ministry of Education, adding that the learners were not listed to sit for the assessment to enable them to progress to Grade 7 (junior school) next year.

The incident led to the agitation of parents who on Thursday demonstrated demanding a speedy investigation into the case.

Led by Wilson Ndege, the parents said they were taken in turns by the school management only to offer 23 Grade 6 pupils photocopied fake examination papers.