Twelve teachers charged in Mombasa over KCPE exam leak

Lawyer Francis Kadima, representing 12 teachers from Star of Sea Primary School, speaks in court on November 12, 2015. The teachers were charged with being in possession of examination material. They denied the charges and were released on a Sh500,000 bond each or an alternative of a Sh200,000 cash bail. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The teachers committed the offences on November 10, 2015 at the institution’s examination centre in Mombasa.
  • Their lawyer, Mr Francis Kadima, asked the court to release them on lenient bond terms since they are employed by the government.
  • The court heard that the teachers’ mobile phones, which were confiscated, had been forwarded to a cybercrime unit in Nairobi for forensic analysis.
  • Prosecuting counsel Eugene Wangila said the accused, being teachers, ought to have been a good example.

Twelve teachers were charged on Thursday with being in possession of the just concluded Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination materials.

The Star of the Sea Primary School teachers were charged separately before Mombasa Principal Magistrate Diana Mochache.

They denied the charges and were each released on a Sh500,000 bond with a surety of similar amount or an alternative of a Sh200,000 cash bail.

According to the prosecution, the teachers committed the offences on November 10, 2015 at the school’s examination centre in Mombasa.

They were Ms Zillah Wacharo, Ms Edda Wakio, Ms Margaret Dzombo, Ms Agatha Wafula, Mr Newton Mwalamisi, Ms Mary Kavehere, Ms Beth Wangui, Pili Omar, Ms Janet Nuru, Ms Asli Ibrahim, Ms Edith Mutambi and Ms Beatrice Kedogo.

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The court heard that the accused were found in possession of Mathematics, English and English Composition KCPE examination papers on their WhatsApp accounts that were purported to relate to the 2015 exam.

Their lawyer, Mr Francis Kadima, asked the court to release them on lenient bond terms since they are employed by the government.

“The accused are innocent and the prosecution should charge the real thieves at (the) Kenya National Examination Council who might have stolen the examinations,” said Mr Kadima.

He argued that the accused might face interdiction from their employer, the Teachers Service Commission, and asked the court to release them on non-punitive terms.

“The accused presented themselves in court and are ready to comply with all the terms. The court should not deny them bond,” said Mr Kadima.

The court heard that the teachers’ mobile phones, which were confiscated, had been forwarded to a cybercrime unit in Nairobi for forensic analysis.

Prosecuting counsels Eugene Wangila and Erick Masila had made an application to have the accused released on strict bond terms.

“The offence affects the education sector of this country. It is slightly related to corruption, which the government is trying to fight,” said Mr Wangila.

Mr Wangila said the accused, being teachers, ought to have been a good example.

The case will be heard from December 14 to 16.