Three individuals have been charged in connection with the recent fiasco surrounding the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) exams in Eldoret, where 23 pupils missed out on sitting for the critical exams. The accused include the director of Silver Bells Junior Academy, Margret Indaasi, the school’s head teacher, Donald Lumwagi, and a third suspect, Allan Kenyatta, who is facing multiple counts of impersonation and fraud.
The case revolves around the unfortunate incident where the pupils at the private school were not allowed to sit for their KPSEA exams, allegedly due to a series of administrative failures and fraudulent activities orchestrated by the accused. When the three appeared before Senior Resident Magistrate Rodgers Otieno in Eldoret, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Unauthorized Possession of Exam Materials
Indaasi and Lumwagi face charges related to the unauthorized possession of examination materials. On October 30, 2024, they were allegedly found in possession of KPSEA branded exam papers, including Mathematics, Integrated Science, and English Language papers. The materials were intended for the 2023 KPSEA exams, and their possession without lawful excuse raised serious concerns about the integrity of the exams.
Both Indaasi and Lumwagi denied the charges, with Indaasi maintaining that she had no involvement in the possession of the exam papers. “It’s not true, your honor,” she said when asked to respond to the accusations. The unauthorized possession of exam papers is a serious offense, as it undermines the credibility of the national examination process and compromises fairness for all candidates.
Unregistered School and Fraudulent Teaching Credentials
Indaasi also faces a charge of running a private school that is not registered with the Ministry of Education. She was accused of operating Silver Bells Junior Academy without the necessary legal authorization, which is a requirement for all schools in Kenya. This is a significant violation, as it not only disrupts the academic journey of students but also raises concerns about the quality of education provided in unregistered institutions.
Additionally, Lumwagi, the head teacher, is charged with fraudulently presenting himself as a registered teacher and executing the duties of a head teacher at Silver Bells Junior Academy despite lacking the necessary qualifications and a Teacher Service Commission (TSC) number. According to the Teachers’ Code of Regulations, every teacher is required to be registered and qualified to teach in Kenya. Lumwagi’s failure to meet these qualifications further highlights the level of malpractice allegedly involved in the school’s operations.
Impersonation and Forgery
Allan Kenyatta, who is also facing multiple charges, stands accused of impersonating an official from the Ministry of Education. He allegedly forged stamps for the County Director of NEMA (National Environment Management Authority) in Uasin Gishu County and the Director of Education in the Moiben Subcounty. Kenyatta is also accused of forging documents, including KPSEA exam papers made by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) without authorization. These forged documents were allegedly used to facilitate the fraudulent registration of the school and to cover up the administrative failures that led to the pupils missing their exams.
Kenyatta’s charges include uttering documents with the intent to defraud, further complicating the case against him. The forgery of official documents, especially those linked to national examinations, is a serious offense and could have significant implications for his future.
Bail and Court Proceedings
The accused were released on varying bail terms. Indaasi and Lumwagi were granted bond of Sh300,000 each or a cash bail of Sh150,000, while Kenyatta was granted a bond of Sh500,000 or a cash bail of Sh150,000. The court has set the next mention of the case for December 2, 2024, for further directions.
The case has attracted significant attention, particularly from the parents of the affected pupils, many of whom were present in the courtroom. The parents expressed their frustration and disappointment over the incident, with some of them visibly emotional as they voiced their concerns about the future of their children’s education.
School Shutdown
In the aftermath of the exam fiasco, Silver Bells Junior Academy has been shut down. The closure came after the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities conducted investigations into the events that led to the students missing their KPSEA exams. This has left many parents scrambling to find alternative education options for their children, raising concerns about the impact on their academic futures.
As the case continues to unfold, the court proceedings will likely reveal more about the scale of the fraudulent activities and the extent to which the involved parties were responsible for the mishandling of the KPSEA exams. The outcome of the case will also have far-reaching implications for the regulation of private schools in Kenya and the integrity of the national examination system.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency in the education sector, where the future of the country’s youth is at stake.
