Former Merishaw School Principal David Kariuki Arrested Over Alleged KCSE Exam Malpractice
News Updated: 26 May 2026 13:14 EAT
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Former Merishaw School principal David Kariuki has been arrested in Embu County over his alleged involvement in the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination malpractice scandal that has drawn national attention.
Detectives arrested Kariuki on Tuesday following months of investigations into claims that examination integrity was compromised during last year’s KCSE examinations at the school.
Authorities confirmed that the former principal is expected to be arraigned in court alongside another staff member linked to the institution as investigations into the alleged malpractice continue.
Investigators accuse Kariuki of allegedly facilitating cheating during the examinations by projecting examination answers onto a large television screen for candidates before examination papers were administered.
Reports indicate that detectives had earlier raided the school after receiving intelligence reports on suspected examination irregularities, but Kariuki allegedly went into hiding before his eventual arrest in Embu.
The Teachers Service Commission is reported to have relieved Kariuki of his duties after the allegations emerged, with education authorities launching internal investigations into the matter.
Merishaw School had gained widespread recognition across the country after posting impressive results in the 2024 KCSE examinations, recording a mean score that placed the institution among the country’s top-performing schools.
The school’s sudden academic rise had attracted public attention and admiration, with many education stakeholders praising the institution’s performance before questions later emerged regarding the credibility of some examination results.
Kariuki previously served as principal of Alliance High School before moving to Merishaw School, where he was credited with overseeing major academic improvements and institutional growth.
The arrest comes as the government intensifies efforts to combat examination malpractice, impersonation and academic fraud, with authorities warning that individuals found guilty of undermining the credibility of national examinations will face severe legal consequences.
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD