Detectives have uncovered an audacious online scam targeting students and parents ahead of the national examinations, after arresting a fourth-year Meru University student accused of selling fake Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) papers.
The suspect, Chrispinus Nandafu Naisuma, was tracked down and arrested in Kianjai, Tigania West Sub-County, following a joint sting operation by officers attached to the KNEC Directorate and the DCI.
According to investigators, Nandafu is believed to be the brains behind a fast-growing digital racket operating under the name “The Teacher’s KNEC Exam 2025.”
The suspect is said to have run multiple fake online accounts — posing as “Dr. Ibrahim,” “Madam Salim,” “Chat GPT,” and “Violent Kathini Mwendwa” — to trick unsuspecting Kenyans into buying counterfeit exam papers, promising them guaranteed success in upcoming exams.
How the Scam Worked
Authorities say the student used Telegram, WhatsApp, and Facebook groups to circulate what he claimed were “leaked” national exam materials. Victims were required to pay through mobile money before receiving doctored past papers branded as 2025 examination questions.
“He was operating a full-fledged cyber fraud operation,” a senior detective involved in the case revealed. “He knew the psychology of desperate candidates and exploited it with fake academic promises.”
DCI Raid and Seizures
When detectives finally moved in, they recovered 29 Airtel SIM cards, six mobile phones, two laptops, and several Safaricom and Telkom SIM cards, all believed to have been used in the online scam.
The suspect is currently in custody and is expected to be arraigned once investigations are complete. Police are also tracking possible accomplices linked to the wider network.
Authorities Warn Public
In a joint warning, the KNEC and DCI cautioned members of the public against falling for online advertisements promising access to leaked examination papers.
“All genuine examination materials are highly secured and handled under strict integrity protocols,” a KNEC spokesperson said. “Any claims of leaked exams are false and criminal.”
The agencies vowed to intensify surveillance ahead of the 2025 exams, saying arrests would continue as part of a nationwide cleanup targeting exam fraudsters.
Meanwhile, the arrest has sparked mixed reactions among university students and education stakeholders, many expressing shock that a tech-savvy student could exploit digital platforms to undermine academic integrity.
