A Nairobi court has released two suspects linked to a cybercrime scheme involving fake promises to alter Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results on a cash bail of Sh70,000 each.
Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina on Minday declined an application by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to detain the suspects for 14 days, instead he has ordered them to be released on bail pending investigations.
The suspects, David Opiyo Odhiambo and Albert Kerry Nyandianga, are under investigation for false publication and obtaining money by false pretences.
In his ruling, the magistrate directed the two to appear before DCI officers whenever required.
In the miscellaneous application the DCI’s General Investigations Unit, sought custodial orders against the duo.
DCI allege that the two suspects operated several WhatsApp and Telegram groups with more than 42,000 followers, through which they falsely claimed to have connections within the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
Through the groups, the suspects allegedly promised to alter KCSE results in exchange for money, with the amount demanded depending on the grade sought.
The DCI further claims the suspects shared images of KNEC offices and screenshots of what they described as the KNEC grading portal to convince unsuspecting members of the public that they were genuine KNEC insiders.
Through John Kariuki, the police say the two are administrators of the social media platforms under investigation and that their release could jeopardise ongoing inquiries.
The court heard that officers travelled to the Nyanza region in pursuit of the suspects, leading to the arrest of the second respondent in Migingo, Kisumu County, where he was allegedly hiding.
The first respondent was arrested in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County.
At the time of arrest, police say they seized several electronic devices, including Nokia C32 and Tecno CM5 mobile phones and an HP EliteBook laptop, which were allegedly logged into the Telegram and WhatsApp groups under investigation.
Investigators believe the devices contain large volumes of data dating back to the 2024 KCSE examinations.
The DCI is also seeking time to subject the seized devices to forensic analysis and to conduct searches at premises in Nairobi, Rongai, Kiambu and Thika, which are believed to be linked to the suspects’ accomplices who are still at large.
Police further told the court that the suspects are a flight risk, citing the proximity of their residence to the Kenya–Tanzania border.
DCI said releasing them on bail could hinder efforts to conclude investigations and prefer charges.
Kariuki maintains that the custodial orders sought are not punitive but are intended to give investigators adequate time to extract and analyse electronic evidence, including M-Pesa transaction records, some of which are yet to be received from Safaricom PLC following earlier court orders.
The matter will be mentioned on February 2, 2026.
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