Garissa Township Member of Parliament (MP) Aden Duale has alleged that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is planning mass cancellation of KCSE examination results in counties from the Northern region.
Duale said that the mass cancellation is being done under the pretext of cheating in the national examinations by candidates.
However, according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ (DCI) Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau, the region has been blamed for the increasing number of illegal exposure of the national examination papers.
According to the investigation, almost all KCSE examination materials recovered during a recent crackdown on examination cheating culprits who were taken into custody in three counties.
Forensic analysis of four learners’ mobile phones revealed that the three counties are notorious for the leakage of examinations.
Some students were arrested over involvement in various examination malpractices.
“As leaders, we are keenly watching and eagerly waiting for results before we can take our next step,” said Duale.
In another incident, the Principal of Maasai Girl’s Secondary School Ms Rose Otieno is being probed over allegedly attempting to leak the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). Narok County Commissioner Isaac Masinde said that investigations had been started regarding the allegations that parents had made claiming that she was soliciting Kshs. 3,000 from them to use in leaking the KCSE examination.
He said that the county examination multi-agency committee instructed her to leave the examination centre as the investigation is ongoing.
All of the school’s invigilators and security officers were replaced. Besides, the Deputy Principal was appointed as the acting centre manager until the KCSE examination period elapses.
“Security personnel and invigilators were taken to different schools as we continue with investigations. Once the investigations are completed all those accused will be prosecuted in a court of law,” said Masinde.
At the moment of writing this article, five mobile phones have been confiscated at Olomirani Girls Secondary School. Two other phones were also confiscated at Olmariko Secondary School in Narok West sub-counties.
On the hand, Masinde said that the examination was ongoing well in other centres in the county with no irregularities reported.
Regarding all security officers escorting the examination, he urged them to be vigilant and ensure that the examination is being done following the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) regulations.
An increase in examination malpractice cases has been witnessed with online platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram being used in the distribution of examination papers in exchange for a fee.
Due to this invigilators, school principals and candidates were arrested because of this.
On his part, Education Secretary Prof George Magoha has admitted the early opening of examination containers but denied any claims that the integrity of this year’s national examination is in danger.