By Steve Mkawale and Boaz Kipngeno
Nakuru, Kenya: Egerton University in Nakuru County has been shut down indefinitely following students’ unrest over leaked examination papers.
The management of the institution ordered students out of the Njoro and Nakuru town campuses Monday evening when they started protesting about postponement of the examinations following leakage of two papers.
In a notice to all students, the university’s Register Academic Affairs Prof. S Owido said the senate has observed serious irregularities in the processing and conduct of all undergraduate and post graduate examinations in all campuses and centers.
“The said exam for session 1 of 2013/2014 academic year have therefore been cancelled and will be organised a fresh. The examinations will be held in early January 2014”, read part of the notice.
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The notice ordered all students to proceed for Christmas vacation with immediate effect.
The notice triggered protest in Njoro and Nakuru Town campuses where students barricaded George Morara Avenue that passes outside the town campus disrupting free flow of traffic.
At the Njoro campus, there was anxiety as students demanded explanation from the management on how the examinations were leaked.
Egerton University Vice Chancellor Professor James Tuitoek said the issue was under investigation and he would comment on the matter after the probe.
A senior lecturer at the university who spoke on condition of anonymity said six members of staff in the exam department have been suspended following the leakage of two papers for Bachelor of Economics/ Statistics and Bachelor of Commerce.
Students told The Standard that leakage was rampant in both campuses.
“Students paid approximately Sh5, 000 for a single paper. All the papers were available for the highest bidder. This matter has to be thoroughly investigated,” said a student who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Tension was high on Monday night in Njoro campus after the information about the postponement of examination spread.
Investigation by The Standard revealed that a cleaner in the exams department was key in circulating the leaked papers to students.
“Some of transactions were being done via mobile money transfer services and the buyer was directed to collect the paper from the cleaner,” said a source privy to the scam that is likely damage the reputation of the institution.
