As the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations continue, the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has raised the alarm over the increasing use of Telegram channels to leak examination papers.
According to the August 2025 monitoring report, 18 active Telegram channels have been flagged by Knec for circulating alleged KCSE and Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board (Kasneb) papers, out of a total of 51 identified.
Government officials oversee the distribution of KCSE examination papers at Kiawara Police Station in Nyeri County on November 4, 2024.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi| Nation Media group
While laws exist to safeguard learners and promote accountability, the main challenge now lies in the conduct of education administrators.
The KCSE national exams kicked off last week, even as schools brace for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) starting Monday, October 27, through to October 30, amid delays in government capitation that have strained operations and disrupted preparations in some centres.
According to Knec, a total of 3,424,836 candidates will sit this year’s national exams. Of these, 996,078 candidates are undertaking KCSE, 1,130,669 learners are sitting the KJSEA for the first time, while 1,298,089 candidates are taking KPSEA.
This year’s tests mark a major milestone in education reforms, coming just a year after the last batch of 1.4 million pupils sat for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2023. This year’s is the second-last cohort to sit KCSE before the country fully adopts the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The Sunday Nation has established that invigilators are increasingly being identified as central players in the leaking and distribution of national examination papers.
Education and security officials further revealed that tech-savvy students from five universities are deploying their digital skills - along with prior experience as KCSE candidates - to manipulate the system for financial gain.
Knec data shows that in August 2025, 51 Telegram and WhatsApp channels were reported to the Communications Authority of Kenya over exam-related content, with 19 of these still active. Currently, 36 cases are under investigation.
Six teachers in 2025 and 117 teachers in 2024, totalling 123, along with 10 students, have been arrested over pre-exam irregularities. “As we speak, the problem is no longer just with the students - it’s with those in charge. We have done a lot to ensure compliance, but the real test lies in the integrity of our professionals, especially heads of institutions, supervisors, and administrators,” said a top Knec official.
Unlike in the past, when misconduct largely involved students seeking unfair advantage, school heads and teachers are now increasingly implicated in examination malpractice and illegal dealings.
“It is worrying that those who should be protecting the system are now the ones compromising it,” the official added.
Knec CEO David Njengere speaks during the release of the 2024 KCSE results at Mitihani House in Nairobi on January 9, 2025.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation
Knec Chief Executive Officer David Njengere said the council had completed all logistical preparations, including a pilot study for the Junior School assessments in 265 schools earlier this year. Sample KJSEA papers were distributed through the CBA portal in January to help schools prepare.
“Knec will involve 10,765 centre managers, 12,126 supervisors, 54,782 invigilators, 22,247 security officers and 2,692 drivers. Centres hosting both KJSEA and KPSEA will require even larger numbers: 24,213 centre managers, 26,479 supervisors and 125,492 invigilators. To further strengthen the security of examination materials, Knec will pilot the use of digital smart padlocks in 250 containers this year,” said Dr Njengere during the launch of the exam season early this month.
Knec has also issued new directives to strengthen examination integrity. Centre managers have been instructed to ensure that supervisors and invigilators do not serve in the same examination centres for more than three consecutive years.
