How 3 University Students Used Telegram To Earn Millions From KCSE Students

Three students from Egerton University were arraigned in court on Monday morning, October 31 for obtaining millions of shillings from parents and KCSE candidates via Telegram forums in the pretext that they would sell them examination materials for the forthcoming national examinations.

Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) 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. 

The mastermind of the syndicate Kelvin Anunda Mogaka, alias Prof Lenchodas, 24, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science Education in Mathematics and Physics was lured into a trap by the detectives on Thursday night, October 27 and led them to his house in Njoro.

Two of the Egerton University students arrested on October 31, 2022. /DCI

Mogaka who lived large in a well-furnished apartment had created two Telegram groups with over 13,000 followers, where he was believed to have obtained millions of shillings from parents, who parted with between Ksh5,000 to Ksh20,000 to help their children steal the examination. 

"But the sleuths 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 mobile money and bank accounts where the received money would be deposited.

"In one such account at a local bank in Kisii branch belonging to his brother who is a teacher in Mogongo girls secondary school, about Ksh2 million was flagged by the detectives who also discovered that the suspect also operated a similar account at the Kisii bank branch," the DCI stated in part.

The Telegram groups contained instructions on how the payments would be made with members being cautioned to strictly follow the procedure to save time. “Avoid many stories, all papers are available,” read one of the messages in the group.

The suspect’s kin told detectives that Mogaka had earlier informed him that he had hit the jackpot after a successful bet and would be sending him money to put up a house for him at their home in Mosocho, Nyamira county. 

"When the detectives visited the homestead in Nyamusi, they confirmed that indeed the fourth-year student was not your usual varsity comrade but was in the process of putting up a modest house in the village, against all odds. 

"The suspect led the detectives to two other accomplices Francis Manyara Ogata alias prof Ranchodas and Bravin Ombongi both fourth-year students at Egerton University pursuing BA in Education, Maths and Geography courses," added the DCI.

During the raid, the DCI detectives recovered six mobile phones, eight identity cards and ATM cards all linked to the fraudulent telegram and bank accounts. 

The suspects were arraigned at Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi and released on a Ksh1 million bond or Ksh500,000 with surety of the same amount.

The Ministry of Education and Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) officials have put up elaborate mechanisms aimed at upholding the integrity of administering the forthcoming KCPE and KCSE examinations, to avoid cases of irregularities as reported in the last national examination conducted earlier in the year.

Parents and students have been cautioned not to join such fraudulent groups but to be honest and prepare for the forthcoming examinations adequately.