By Roy Hezron
Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha has revealed that a total of 11 examination officials including Centre managers, supervisors and invigilators have been arrested over attempts to expose some of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination papers.
In a statement dated April 14, 2021 to media houses, Prof. Magoha stated that the process was achieved through the use of impermeable security features of the examination and he assured the country that the attempts didn’t interfere with its credibility.
“I wish to assure the country that these attempts to access the examinations have not interfered with the credibility of the examinations as the exposed questions were never accessed by the candidates. We warn anyone who intends to compromise the integrity of the examinations that tough action will be meted out to them,” said Prof Magoha.
Those arrested include a Centre Manager and a Supervisor were in John Mbadi Centre in Suba sub-county in Homabay County; a Centre manager in Adega Mixed in Rachuonyo sub-county in Homabay County; and a Centre manager and two supervisors in El-Hagarsu Mixed in Mandera sub-county in Mandera County.
Others who were arrested include a Centre Manager and two Supervisors in Kerongorori Mixed in Kenyenya sub-county in Kisii County; a Centre manager in Huda Secondary in Fafi sub-county in Garisssa County; and a Centre Manager and a Supervisor in Moro Secondary in Nyakach sub-county in Kisumu County.
However, Prof. Magoha warned those examination officials who had exposed the content of Agriculture Paper 1 which was done today morning that firm action will be taken upon them.
“Although we have been decisive and ruthless in our pursuit of the masterminds of these unethical practices, we regrettably note that some of them are determined to go to any lengths in a bid to expose the contents of the examination papers once they are released in the morning to schools after 6am. This morning, for example, we are pursuing examination officials who exposed the contents of the Agriculture Paper 1 to some candidates. Firm action will be taken against the perpetrators,” noted Prof. Magoha.
Prof. Magoha thanked the stakeholders who continued to alert the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) with important information and assured that the remaining examination materials are safely kept.
“All the remaining examination materials will remain safely kept to ensure the sanctity of the ongoing examinations. We thank all the stakeholders and examination monitors who have kept sending in tips of any suspected malpractices to the Kenya National Examinations Council,” he noted.
The first batch of candidates cleared their KCSE papers on April 12, 2021 while April 21, 2021 is the official date the examination is coming to an end.
In a memo dated April 9, 2021 signed by the Principal Secretary, State Department of Early Leanings and Basic Education Dr. Julius Jwan, the ministry had asked all the County Directors of Education to work with County Commissioners and School Principals to ensure that students are facilitated to travel in and out of Nairobi, Machakos, Nakuru, Kiambu and Kajiado after their KCSE examinations.
