Three students from Egerton University have been arraigned for obtaining millions of shillings from parents and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates via Telegrams forums.
The suspects obtained the funds in the pretext that they would sell them examination materials for the forthcoming national examinations.
“The 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,” said the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
“The mastermind of the syndicate Kelvin Anunda Mogaka. 24, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science Education Mathematics and Physics was lured into a trap by the detectives on Thursday night, and led them to his house in Njoro, Nakuru county,” added DCI.
Mogaka was reported to have created two telegram groups with over 13,000 followers, where he is believed to have obtained millions of shillings from parents, who parted with between Sh5,000 (00) to Sh20,000 (0) to help their children steal the examination.
But the operatives nipped their plans in the bud when they raided the suspect’s house and recovered dozens 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.
The suspect led the detectives to other accomplices, Francis Manyara Ogata and Bravin Ombongi, both fourth-year students at the University pursuing BA in Education, Maths, and Geography courses.
During the raid, the detectives recovered six mobile phones, eight identity cards, and ATM cards, all linked to the fraudulent telegram and bank accounts.
The suspects were this morning arraigned at Milimani law courts and released on a Ksh1 million ($10000) bond or Ksh500,000 ($5000) with surety of the same amount.
Parents and students are cautioned not to join such fraudulent groups but to be honest and adequately prepare for the forthcoming examinations.
