The Education cabinet Secretary, Dr. Amina Mohammed, has sent a strong warning to any one who may attempt to compromise this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education Examinations, that kicked off yesterday. The CS, who was speaking after supervising the start of English paper one examinations at Murang’a boys high school this morning, said the government has put in place stringent measures to safeguard the credibility of the National tests.

“The Government has put in place careful and extensive measures to ensure that the outcome of these examinations is a true reflection of the effort and hard work of our candidates,” Dr. Amina said. The CS was speaking in relation to yesterday’s report that cases of cheating had been detected in Nyanza and western regions, yesterday, as the exams kicked off country wide.

The CS sounded a strong warning to those may indulge in examination malpractices. “Any attempts to contaminate the examination process will be detected and arrested immediately. I wish to send a warning to anybody attempting, contemplating or with the intention to interfere with this process, you will be detected, tracked down and apprehended,” the CS said.

She further advised parents and candidates to resist any attempts by any one to lure them into indulging in examination related malpractices; as the penalties attached are hefty. “The council (The Kenya National Examinations Council, KNEC) advises parents, candidates and other stake holders not to be duped into engaging in any activities that will compromise the ability of candidates to sit their examinations in a fair and stable environment,” Dr. Amina added.

Yesterday, at Monianku Secondary School, in Gucha South Sub-county of Kisii county, about 17 persons were arrested for alleged examination malpractices. Incidentally, Monianku secondary school hired outsiders to facilitate examination malpractices at the examination centre. 5 suspects were nabbed by the Gucha South OCPD, Mr. Vincent Kitili, in a house that is located next to the school’s compound. The 5 were in possession of a chemistry paper which was underway, at the time. Those arrested included: Irene Kivunja Mbone, Judith Nyambeki, Alex Ziko Akuma, Christopher Ogora and Makori Edwin. 

After the day’s examinations, the police arrested more suspects for questioning. Those arrested included the school’s staff members and the Kenya National Examinations Council contracted field officers (Supervisor and invigilators). They were: Mutende John (the supervisor), Invigilators (Joel Omagwa, Edna Morwabe, Gideon Nyagaka, Benard Omoro, John Abuta, Ann Nyaboe and Joel Nyakwanya) and the school’s deputy principal, Mr. Peter Arori, who is also the deputy centre manager.

The police could, however, not arrest 2 other individuals believed to have played a role at the examination cheating process. The school bursar, Peter Onchieku, ran into hiding plus the owner of the cyber cafe where the chemistry paper was photocopied, Fred Okindo.

Photo (Courtesy of @sSiringi): Right; Nabbed exam cheating suspects at Monianku secondary School. Left; The photocopier that was used to duplicate the examination materials.

The Kenya National Examinations Council chair, Prof George Magoha, in his press statement last evening said: “An alert system, formidable KNEC guidelines and security measures put in place over the year today helped to detect, and nip in the bud, attempts to smuggle foreign materials into two examination centres – one in Nyanza and another in Western region. At least 15 people, including centre managers and invigilators of the two schools, were arrested and are in police custody arising from the two incidents. No candidate had been exposed to any foreign material by the time Council thwarted the ulterior motives.” Read full details here: KNEC: Status of KCSE, 2018, Examinations’ administration