15 suspects charged with KCSE exam cheating to know fate today

Fifteen suspects who were arrested at Monianku Secondary School in Kisii County over examination malpractice will know whether they will be granted bond or not on Monday.

Ogembo Senior Resident Magistrate Margaret Nafula will give a ruling on bond application for the suspects who have been in custody since they were arrested earlier this month.

On November 12, the suspects among them the school principal and his deputy appeared before the magistrate where they were charged with aiding an offence in the ongoing KCSE examination and abetting access to examination materials, to which they all pleaded not guilty.

They were, however, denied bond following a successful application by the prosecutor, Peter Wainaina, who told the court that if the suspects were released on bond, they may continue abetting cheating of the ongoing examinations and interfere with witnesses.

Wainaina told the court that some of the accused persons were not under permanent employment, hence, they might abscond court adding that if released on bond they were likely to continue abetting cheating.

Lawyers Kerosi Ondieki, Nyambega Mose, Sonye Ondari and Stephen for the accused persons objected the application saying the accused persons are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty by the court.

Five of the suspects; Irene Kivunja Mbone, Jurith  Nyabeki, Alex Ziko Akuma, Christopher Ogora and Marori Edwin, were arrested at a house near the school in possession of a Chemistry paper.

Arori Peter (Deputy Principal), Mutende John (Supervisor) and invigilators, Omagwa Joel, Edna Morwabe, Gedion Nyagaka, Bernad Omoro, John Abuta, Ann Nyaboe and Joel Nyakwanya were also arrested after the exam to assist in the investigations.