The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has cautioned candidates, parents and the public against falling prey to a WhatsApp scam that falsely promises to alter KCSE grades for a fee.
The fraudulent messages, which have been circulating widely, claim that candidates can boost their scores in selected subjects by submitting personal details and paying money to alleged agents. KNEC stressed that no individual or group has the power to manipulate national examination results.
Recently, KNEC flagged one viral post that instructed candidates to provide sensitive information such as their school name, official KNEC name, index number and subjects to be “fixed,” before initiating private contact on WhatsApp.
KNEC dismissed the claims as outright fraud, warning Kenyans not to engage with anyone offering such services. “Beware of scammers,” the council said, sharing a screenshot of the misleading message.
According to KNEC, the scam exploits the anxiety surrounding the release of the 2025 KCSE results and even insinuates the involvement of the Ministry of Education and KNEC officials. The council noted that fraudsters often take advantage of periods of high tension among candidates and parents to solicit money under false pretences.
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This is not the first time KNEC has sounded the alarm over such schemes. In previous warnings, the council revealed that fraudsters have been creating WhatsApp groups and channels to lure unsuspecting parents and students with promises of exam result editing.
KNEC clarified that all answer scripts are anonymised during the marking process to protect candidates’ identities and uphold the integrity of examinations. “Beware of fraudsters purporting to be able to alter candidates’ scores during the marking of the KCSE examination or KJSEA. Please note that all candidates’ answer scripts are anonymised to protect their identity and ensure integrity during marking,” the council reiterated.
By Masaki Enock
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