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| exam cheating (file photo) |
Candidates and other students of Malindi High School in Kilifi County demanded that police release the teacher who was picked by detectives and Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) officials from his office.
They accused police and Knec of framing him while others alleged they had been coerced to implicate the teacher. Police said they would charge him with obtaining money through false pretences once investigation was complete.
The students claimed there was a conspiracy to cancel their results for alleged examination cheating.
“He is an innocent man and he is being framed,” said one student who declined to give his name as another added that “with this kind of publicity we are now fearing that our examination results will be cancelled”.
Student confession
The teacher was arrested early morning at the school after detectives claimed to have received reports he had collected Sh1,000 from each candidate promising to supply examination papers in advance.
During the raid, police recovered Sh128,000 from the teacher, which they claim he had collected from candidates.
Malindi DCIO John Ndungu confirmed the arrest, adding that several students confessed paying the money to facilitate cheating and recorded statements. The DCIO said the officers also recovered a laptop, printer and a modem, which the teacher is suspected could have used to print the papers.
He said once investigation was over, the teacher will be arraigned in court to answer charges of obtaining money by false pretence.
The DCIO denied claims that students were coerced to write statements. A new law on examination cheating stipulates that offenders should be jailed for 10 years or be fined up to Sh2 million.
This is the first incident of examination cheating to be reported since the examination started last week. Malindi District Education Officer Mary Kamurua confirmed the arrest.
By the time of going to Press, the teacher was still in police custody. The DEO assured the restless candidates there was no conspiracy to cancel their results.
Meanwhile, ten students of Mazeras Boys High School in Kwale County were on Monday arrested after allegedly attempting to burn the school. Some Form Two students were seen with a jerrican of petrol in their dormitory.
According to Kinango District Education Officer Kiberu Kimani, Form Four students stopped them from burning the school.
“After realising their plan was thwarted, a brawl ensued between the suspected arsonists and other students. Some students were injured in the clash,” said Kimani.
Tension was high in the school forcing the security guards to call police who arrested the suspects.
Kimani added the suspects were taken to Mariakani Police Station while the injured students were rushed to Mariakani District Hospital.
Mariakani OCPD Beatrice Gachago said the students recorded statements but they were still investigating.
