Former Merishaw School Principal David Kariuki Arrested Over Alleged KCSE 2025 Exam Malpractice

Former Merishaw School principal David Kariuki has been arrested in Embu County over his alleged involvement in malpractice during the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations. He is expected to be arraigned in court alongside a staff member linked to the same institution as investigations intensify.

Kariuki was arrested on Tuesday, May 26, by detectives probing allegations that the school engaged in practices that compromised the integrity of last year’s national exams. Authorities say both suspects are being investigated for their roles in coordinated cheating activities that allegedly gave students an unfair advantage.

According to preliminary reports, the former principal is accused of projecting KCSE examination answers onto a large television screen for candidates before the exams were officially administered in November 2025. Investigators believe the alleged scheme was carefully organized and involved school staff.

When detectives initially moved to the institution to make arrests, Kariuki reportedly fled the scene, temporarily evading capture. He was later apprehended in Embu after sustained efforts by investigators. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) subsequently relieved him of his duties as the probe continued.

Before the allegations emerged, Merishaw School had gained national attention for its outstanding academic performance. The institution recorded a strong A- mean grade of 10.5686 in the 2024 KCSE results, surpassing long-established academic giants such as Alliance High School, Kenya High School, and Starehe Boys Centre to emerge among the top performers nationally.

Kariuki had joined Merishaw after resigning from his previous leadership role at Alliance School, where he had served as principal before taking up the new appointment that later attracted scrutiny.

His arrest comes amid a broader nationwide crackdown on academic fraud and the use of fake qualifications in public service. Detectives have recently intensified investigations targeting individuals who allegedly secured employment using forged KCSE certificates.

In a related case, a former employee at the Office of the Auditor General was arrested for allegedly using a fake KCSE certificate to gain employment, earning over Ksh5 million in salaries before the fraud was uncovered. Authorities say efforts are underway to recover the funds.