Rigathi Gachagua warns KCPE and KCSE exam cheaters

Rigathi Gachagua warns KCPE and KCSE exam cheaters. The Deputy President has warned those planning to engage in examination cheating that the government will firmly deal with them.

“Anyone who tries to infiltrate the system or make-believe to have access to examination papers will face the music. We have actions in place to ensure such characters are identified, arrested, and made to face the full force of the law.” The DP said.

“We have given firm directions to the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to act promptly. We want cybercrime detectives to be alert day and night and hunt down these fellows cheating Kenyans that they have access to examination papers,” said Mr. Gachagua

The DP, who spoke on Friday when he launched the examination season at Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) offices in South C, Nairobi County, cautioned examination officers against conspiring with cheaters “because that will see you end up in wrong places”.

“Do not take yourself to the culprits, you will be arrested. Do not make attempts to join with them because the law will catch up with you yet, that is not necessary.”

“There is dignity in earning your money in a good way, through hard work,” he said and asked parents and guardians not to allow themselves to be conned by those claiming to have exam papers.

The occasion was attended by regional, county, and sub-county directors of education. County commissioners plus their assistants were also present.

Gachagua wanted to assure Kenyans that the national exams will be trustworthy. “We have taken all measures to ensure insecurity and the biting drought in some parts of the country do not affect the administration of these exams that begin on November 23 and end on December 23.”

He said the government has put enough measures in place to ensure school-going children in drought-hit areas do not miss exams because of hunger and thirst. He said the government is distributing food in arid and semi-arid regions.

KNEC chief executive officer David Njeng’ere said a total of 3.4 million candidates will sit Grade Six, Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams this year.

“We have the plan to ensure exams are not interrupted in any way, including in hotspot areas. We have gone a step further to ensure for no reason will a candidate miss exams,” the DP added.

On Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), Gachagua said the government will respect the views of parents.

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu assured Kenyans of examinations credibility.

“We have been able to identify the loopholes and how to deal with them. The process of administering exams has formally started,” Machogu said.

He added: “We also agreed with the county commissioners and county directors of education on how to manage the 493 examination storage and distribution centers. There will be closer cooperation amongst all the government agencies which will provide daily progress reports.” 

The three exams will be done concurrently from November 28 up to 30 then Form Four exams continue till December 23.

Teachers Service Commission chief executive officer Nancy Macharia said teachers are ready and committed to supporting the Kenya Kwanza government to deliver on its education agenda.

She said they have worked with Knec and vetted 46,941 heads of institutions to play the role of examination center managers in schools. “We have also trained 48,192 supervisors and 206,548 as invigilators. At least 46,751 will be ready to mark the exams.” 

Dr. Macharia added: “We have canceled leave for all our field officers from November 14 so they can be available to oversee examinations.”