Editor's Review

The suspect was masquerading as his father during the English Paper One test.

A 26-year-old man has been arrested in Busia County for sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams on behalf of his father.

According to Matayos Deputy County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto, the man was masquerading as his father at Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School as the candidates sat for English Paper One.

A report by the Nation indicated the suspect, George Barasa Makokha, is a former student at Bujwang’a Secondary School in Funyula Sub-county and was sitting the exams for his 44-year-old father Josephat Basoga Makokha.

The father was a private student at Our Lady of Mercy Secondary in Busia. The suspect is now in police custody.

In a similar incident, police in Kisii County have arrested a university student who attempted to sit for the test in place of a KCSE candidate from Kiamabundu Mixed Secondary School.

The Kisii University student, Angwenyi Brian Nyakeri, 20, was ferried to Kisii Police Headquarters for questioning. According to Kisii Central OCPD Peter Kimani, he was identified in the morning by invigilators for impersonating the KCSE candidate.

{Education CS Prof George Magoha in an exam room. Image: Courtesy}

“Alikuwa anafanyia mwenzake anaitwa Nyamweya James Martin ambaye ameregiter kama private student. Alikuwa anafanya English paper one. Huyu impersonator alishikwa na ameletwa hapa kwa station na sisi hivi anahojiwa,” Kimani told Citizen TV.

The OCPD added the suspect will be arraigned in court tomorrow. He further warned any candidate planning to cheat in the examinations that they’ll face the law.

“Tuko na multi-agency team ambayo iko undercoverna inazunguka kwa examination centres . Ukijaribu kuiba utashikwa,” he added.

This comes after Education CS Prof George Magoha pardoned two KCSE candidates in Nairobi who were found with possession of mobile phones during the exam.

He maintained that the candidates will be allowed to sit for their exams but warned others of consequences if they’re involved in exam cheating.

"We shall allow them to take the exams. I want to warn any teacher who feels brave enough and opens the exam papers beforehand. We shall come for you," Magoha stated.