Police officer missing after students attack KCSE examination monitoring team in Kisii

NAIROBI,Kenya, Nov 5- A police officer is missing after students at Nyabisase Mixed Secondary School in Kisii County allegedly attacked a multi-agency team investigating suspected examination malpractice on Thursday.

Corporal Leonard Siele was reportedly seriously assaulted during the 10.30am confrontation before his whereabouts became unknown, triggering a search as investigators moved to establish the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

The team comprised officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and the National Intelligence Service (NIS), who had visited the institution following reports of suspected examination irregularities.

Police said the operation followed a report by KNEC official Gioko Kanyi, who alerted authorities to suspected malpractice at the school.

Upon arriving at the institution, the team reportedly discovered a laptop hidden behind the school administration offices and alerted DCI officers from Nyamache to respond.

However, before the investigators arrived, students allegedly turned violent and attacked the police officers and KNEC officials.

During the chaos, the students reportedly seized a Toyota Succeed belonging to Corporal Siele, extensively damaging the vehicle and stealing personal belongings kept inside.

Siele was among the officers involved in the examination monitoring operation, alongside IP Peterson Amimo, PC Edward Onyango and NIS officer Boniface Muli.

DCI officers from Nyamache subsequently visited the school as investigations were launched into the alleged examination malpractice, assault on the multi-agency team, damage to property and the officer’s disappearance.

Efforts to establish Corporal Siele’s whereabouts are ongoing.

The incident comes amid efforts by examination authorities and security agencies to safeguard the integrity of national examinations and investigate suspected cases of cheating.

​Bruhan Makong is a Senior News Reporter for Capital FM in Nairobi, covering diplomacy, foreign policy, national security, climate, and human rights across East Africa and the wider region.