How Meru University student allegedly sold fake KCSE exam papers via WhatsApp
National
By
Nancy Gitonga
| Oct 28, 2025
A student at Meru University was on Tuesday charged before the Milimani Law Courts with selling fake Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination papers for the ongoing 2025 national exams.
Nasiuma Chrispinus Nambafu, 22, appeared before Magistrate Benmark Ekhubi, where he denied multiple charges.
The charges were false publication, possession of fake examination materials purportedly from the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), and unlawful possession of national identity cards belonging to other individuals.
Charge sheet presented in court by the Office of the DPP through prosecuting counsel Sonia Njoki says that Nambafu, between 2022 and October 11, 2025, allegedly published false and misleading information through a WhatsApp forum named “Teachers KNEC Exams 2025”, claiming he was in possession of genuine KCSE examination papers originating from KNEC.
The prosecution stated that he intended to use the fraudulent claims to obtain money from millions of unsuspecting members of the public.
“The accused intentionally published false information purporting to have KCSE 2025 examination papers from KNEC with intent that it be acted upon as authentic and to fraudulently obtain money,” reads part of the charge sheet.
In three other counts, Nambafu is accused of being found in possession of national identification cards belonging to Lucy Muthoni Kimencu, Bosco Kioko Wambua, and Doris Kathini Kimencu, all without lawful authority, at Kianjai area, Tigania West Sub-County in Meru County.
He is alleged to have been found with the national ID cards belonging to other persons in his house on October 11, 2025, when DCI detectives arrested him.
The student, who told the court that he completed a course at the Meru University of Science and Technology in mathematics and chemistry, denied the charges and urged the court to grant him reasonable bail terms, saying he is from a humble background.
“Your honour, I plead with this court to grant me reasonable bail terms to enable me to go back to Meru University to graduate,” Nambafu said.
“I come from a humble family background and depend entirely on my parents. I have no means of getting money,” Nambafu told the court.
He further disclosed that he was due to graduate on October 17, 2025, but missed the ceremony following his arrest by detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
He told the court that he could not participate in the graduation because he was behind bars.
His lawyer urged the court to order DCI to pull down the social media publication which depicts him as a mastermind of the national exams fraud.
Magistrate Ekhubi granted him a cash bail of Sh100,000 and ordered him to provide two contact persons as sureties.
Investigations by detectives revealed that Nambafu allegedly ran an elaborate online syndicate trading under the banner “The Teacher’s KNEC Exam 2025”, using multiple fake identities to con unsuspecting teachers and students.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the suspect used aliases such as “Dr Ibrahim”, “Madam Salim”, “Chat GPT”, and “Violent Kathini Mwendwa” to operate across several WhatsApp and Telegram groups, advertising fake examination papers to desperate candidates and educators.
He was arrested at his hideout in Kianjai, Tigania West Sub-County, after a joint operation by DCI detectives attached to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
During the raid, officers reportedly recovered 29 Airtel SIM cards, six mobile phones, two laptops, and multiple Safaricom and Telkom SIM cards believed to have been used to run the fraudulent online network.
The DCI described the suspect as a “crafty university student” who had perfected the art of exploiting social media platforms to prey on unsuspecting Kenyans seeking examination leaks since 2022.
“All official examination papers are securely administered and protected by strict integrity measures,” the DCI said in a statement. “We urge members of the public to report any suspicious activities through our anonymous tip lines.”
The case will be mentioned on November 15, 2025, for pre-trial directions.