NAIROBI, Kenya — Detectives have arrested two suspects accused of producing and circulating fake Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) 2025 results slips, following a coordinated operation by officers attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
The suspects, Albert Kerry Nyadianga and David Opiyo, also known online as “G.O.A.T”, are in police custody and are expected to be arraigned in court after completion of investigations.
According to investigators, the two allegedly ran a scheme targeting KCSE candidates and parents through social media platforms, where they claimed they could alter or “upgrade” examination grades in exchange for payment.
DCI officers said the arrests followed intelligence-led investigations into online groups advertising fraudulent examination services. Nyadianga was arrested in Kisumu, while Opiyo was arrested in Ongata Rongai, in Kajiado County.
Preliminary findings indicate that Opiyo was the central figure behind the operation. Investigators say he is a primary school teacher by profession and administered several online groups that falsely claimed links to KNEC and other examination bodies.
One such group, branded “KCSE 2025 Grade Upgrading,” reportedly had more than 45,000 followers, many of whom were candidates or parents seeking to improve examination outcomes after the release of results.
Detectives further established that Opiyo was active in multiple online forums associated with alleged examination manipulation, including groups bearing names such as KNEC Legit Papers and Upgrading, Group Booster Support, KNEC/KASNEB/ICM/CDA, and KNEC Grade Editing.
During searches conducted after the arrests, officers recovered mobile phones containing images of forged KCSE results slips and other examination-related material. Investigators say the recovered data strengthens the case that the suspects were involved in false publication and attempted examination fraud.
In a statement, the DCI warned members of the public against falling victim to fraudsters exploiting anxiety around national examinations.
“KCSE results are secure and tamper-proof. They cannot be altered by individuals claiming to have access to the examination system,” the agency said.
KNEC has repeatedly maintained that the examination process is protected by multiple layers of security, from candidate registration to marking, grading and results release. The law criminalises any attempt to falsify or misrepresent examination outcomes.
Education sector experts say examination fraud undermines the integrity of the national assessment system and disadvantages honest candidates who rely on merit-based progression to higher education.
The arrests come amid heightened scrutiny of online misinformation targeting examination candidates, particularly during the KCSE and KCPE results periods, when vulnerable families are more likely to be misled.
Police said investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals linked to the network, including possible financial accomplices and administrators of related online platforms.
The suspects remain in custody pending arraignment, as detectives prepare charges related to false publication, forgery, and attempted fraud under Kenyan law.
Authorities urged candidates and parents to rely only on official KNEC communication channels for examination information and to report suspicious claims to law enforcement agencies.
