Govt Thwarts Telegram Access to Curb KCSE Cheating
In an effort to curb cheating during the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) Examinations, the Kenyan government has taken the bold step of shutting down access to the popular social media platform, Telegram. This decision comes in the wake of revelations that Telegram was being used to facilitate cheating during the national tests.
Dr David Njegere, CEO of the National Examination Council, thanked the Ministry of ICT for preventing early exposure and sharing of examination papers on social media.
“In those social media sites and chats, they have made sure that nothing is happening there; in fact, I can tell you for a fact that since Monday this week, we have not had a true case of early exposure,” Dr. Njegere went on to say.
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In October, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) identified 32 suspicious Telegram platforms, with 30 of them actively engaging a community of more than 193,000 parents and students. The government’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the examination process led to the arrest of six social media administrators associated with various Telegram sites involved in examination malpractices.
In order to address the issue, CAK officers, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), and telecommunications service providers launched a multi-agency operation. The discovery of 32 social media platforms used to share, sell, and post examination materials in direct violation of the KNEC Act and regulations served as the catalyst for the operation.
In a letter dated October 19, 2023, addressed to the Communications Authority of Kenya and copied to security agencies, Mr. Befly Jemurgor Bisem, the Deputy Director of the Legal Service Division of KNEC, listed the 32 suspicious Telegram platforms, with 30 of them having an active membership of over 193,000 parents and students.
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The initial arrest of one suspect known as “Mr. Examiner” resulted in over 60,000 members leaving various groups, leaving approximately 130,000 members still actively participating in these illicit activities. Mr. Examiner is a CRE teacher at a private school in Kiambu County.
Afterward, authorities apprehended six more administrators actively engaging in distributing, selling, and posting examination materials across different Telegram groups.
Notably, one of the suspects, popularly known as “Professor Martinez,” is sai to have operated one of the most sought-after Telegram groups, titled “Teacher’s Updates,” boasting a following of more than 18,000 individuals. Within his group, he encouraged teachers, parents, and students, assuring them of support and assistance.
Authorities arrested two students, aged 19 and 20, from Thika Medical School, and apprehended another 20-year-old administrator while she sought customer care services at a Safaricom shop after the suspension of the line she had utilized to open her Telegram account.
All six suspects were arraigned on Monday and charged with various offenses, including the publication of false information. The crackdown on these examination malpractices continues as the government remains committed to upholding the integrity of the KCSE examinations.
Govt Thwarts Telegram Access to Curb KCSE Cheating
