KNEC has revealed the identity of the person who claims to be its chief executive officer

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

Nairobi, Kenya: Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has revealed the identity of the fraudster masquerading as its chief executive officer and extorting money from unsuspecting school heads.

Knec CEO Paul Wasanga said the man identified as Abubakar Opete Shiunzi of national identification number 25799494 registered a number that he used to extort money from school principals in the run up to the release of last year’s KCSE examinations.

Mr Wasanga said the telephone number 0704151897 was registered under his name and noted that the matter has been reported to the police.

“The information was passed to the Criminal Investigation Department to probe and take appropriate action. To warn the public, Knec posted a message on its website cautioning teachers, parents and candidates on the activities of the said fraudster,” said Wasanga.

He said the man comes from Mumias district. “The CID have reliably informed the council that this suspect is a bright student taking Bachelor of Law at the University of Nairobi,” he said.

He also said the man was discontinued from the course due to misconduct related to fraud. 

“He registered his mobile phone number in the name of Paul Wasanga, the CEO of Knec.

“I register my line and also indicate that I am the CEO?” said Wasanga during media brief at his office.

To verify the claim by Wasanga, the writer sent Sh10 to the number and the response read: “EU53TP838 Confirmed. Sh10.00 sent to PAUL WASANGA 074151897 on 20/3/14 at 3.39 pm…”

The Standard on Saturday went ahead to verify and confirmed that the telephone number in question is not the true one used by the Mr Wasanga.

Wasanga said several school heads have been conned and noted that the one of the principal sent sh 200,000 to the same number.

Wasanga said the principals fell prey to lies peddled by the fraudster who claimed he was in a position to alter the examination results.

The extortion claims emerged at the parliamentary committee meeting on education where some MPs claimed that some of the schools were called several days before KCSE results were released.