By Norah Musega
A section of leaders from Migori County have defended candidates sitting national exams in the area against claims that they have engaged in exam cheating.
They blamed Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha for allegedly victimizing all candidates sitting national exams within the county.
The leaders claimed the CS has tarnished the name of candidates by publicly announcing that the county is a cheating hotspot rather than use intelligence services to monitor the suspected schools.
Led by Governor Zachary Obado, the leaders asked Magoha and the ministry to identify specific cases rather than scare candidates and parents.
Obado said statements from the CS would result in victimization of all candidates who sat for the exams in the region despite not participating in any exam irregularity.
The sentiments were shared by Uriri, MP Mark Nyamita who said it may lead to standardization of marking of exams from the region.
“We fear that bright students whom have sat for their exams legally and genuinely without committing any irregularity during the process might be denied their rights during marking, especially those from the regions mentioned by Magoha,” said Nyamita.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Migori branch chairman Henry Otunga however asked teachers to avoid interfering with the ongoing exercise.
He also asked the ministry and Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) to increase exam marking centres due to the third wave of Covid-19 virus.
