Senior officials monitor KCSE on day one of theory exam, amplify calls for integrity

Senior government officials from various ministries have been deployed to various counties to monitor Form Four national exams, whose theory papers began on Monday morning. 

The team is led by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba who supervised the opening of the distribution centre in Kibra in Nairobi County.

On Monday, the more than 965,000 candidates started with English in the morning session while Chemistry Paper One will be administered in the afternoon.

On Tuesday, they will write Mathematics Paper One and English Paper Two with Wednesday set for Chemistry Paper Two and English composition.

Mr Ogamba warned against compromising the integrity of the examination and urged the Judiciary to facilitate quick resolution of cases involving suspects of exam malpractices.

“Anybody found to be involved in malpractice will be arrested and prosecuted and there’s no exception. We’re requesting the Judiciary to facilitate quick disposal of those cases so that punishment can ensue where somebody is found to be guilty,” said Mr Ogamba.

Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) CEO David Njegere called on stakeholders in the education sector to maintain the integrity of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

He spoke when he supervised the opening and distribution of examination papers at Narok Central Deputy County Commissioner’s office.

"We have to ensure that our children sit for the exams in an environment that is as favourable as possible, as enshrined in the rules and regulations," said Dr Njeng’ere.

His Teachers Service Commission (TSC) counterpart Nancy Macharia called for vigilance among examination officials to prevent malpractices.

She was at Mombasa Central deputy commissioner’s office where she was accompanied by the Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Dr Belio Kipsang.

“As a commission, we always feel distraught when we receive reports that some of our professionally trained teachers have been found aiding or cheating in examinations. Let us desist from participating in any form of examination malpractice,” she said.

Ms Macharia added TSC would promote teachers whose work is exemplary, not just in examinations but also in other fields, including leadership and co-curricular activities.

Dr Kipsang said that the new grading system for KCSE tests, which was introduced last year, would be used again to give the candidates the opportunity to focus on areas where they are strong in.

In Kajiado East Sub-County a candidate gave birth on Sunday night, just a few hours before the start of the examinations.

The girl will write her exams from Masimba Health Centre where she is recuperating from.

"We normally do not profile students for pregnancy. We are focused to ensure [that] those who will deliver during the examinations period will be assisted to sit for the examinations,” said Martin Cheruiyot, the Kajiado County director of education.

Dr Cheruiyot added that the number of pregnant candidates in the region has increased over the last few years.

"Last year we had a school with forty per cent of the total candidates expectant. It’s the policy of the Ministry of Education not to stigmatise them but support them,” he said.

Meru County Commissioner Jacob Ouma said 12 inmates and 181 elderly candidates from the county were registered for the examinations.

He disclosed that one candidate had passed away on Sunday night while two others had given birth at Meru Level 5 Hospital on Monday morning.

Murang'a County commissioner Joshua Nkanatha demanded an audit of any missing candidate.

 "We want to be sure that all students who had registered end up sitting for the exams in the spirit of facilitating the constitution that demands basic and mandatory education for our children," he said.

Garissa County commissioner Ramadhan Mwabudzo said security has been beefed up in the region to ensure smooth examination exercise.

“The entire area is safe as far as security is concerned. We have ensured that all routes leading to the examination centers are secured,” he said.

He added that areas marked as insecure are under a close watch by security agencies.

In Lamu County, the KCSE examinations started very well without any hitches reported in all the 30 centers across the county.

A total of 2,067 candidates are sitting for this year's KCSE in Lamu County out of which, 1,107 are boys while 1,060 are girls.

One candidate from Homa Bay County who is said to be held in a remand prison did not sit his examinations after education officials failed to trace him. This was confirmed by the county director of education Eunice Khaemba.

In Kisii, the exercise was supervised by the country director of education Philip Chirchir.

Siaya County deputy county commissioner Robert Ngetich stressed the need for candidates and center managers to adhere to set rules governing examinations.

He said security has been beefed with all the centres manned by police officers.

Last year, a teacher transporting examinations to Mahero Secondary in Alego Usonga was attacked by two suspects who killed one police officer and injured another one.

A total of 965, 500 candidates are registered for the examinations that will be administered from 10,755 examination centres.

Some 10,000 supervisors and 53,275 invigilators will oversee the exercise.

Ms Macharia said 32,480 examiners, who were recently vetted to mark the tests, will be deployed.

In Baringo County, three candidates are sitting their KCSE at the Kabarnet Prison, while in Uasin Gishu County, five candidates are writing the tests in hospital after they were taken ill last week.

Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Eddy Nyale said the five are from different schools across the county.

Mr Nyale warned security officers and other stakeholders against violating examination regulations.

He said no officer or stakeholders will be allowed to supervise examinations while in possession of their mobile phones.

“Whether you are a police officer or any other agent involved in this examination, it is illegal to be found in an examination room or near an examination center with your mobile phone,” warned Mr Nyale.

In Turkana County, although there is improved security at the border areas that have witnessed banditry, authorities are leaving nothing to chance.

Candidates at centers located in banditry-prone areas like Kapedo will be staying in school so that security personnel from various police units can easily coordinate and assure them of their safety and security.

The centers have containers within their reach, County Director of Education Henry Lubanga said on Monday. Some 17, 949 candidates are sitting their exams across 82 public and 30 private centers in the county.

Mr Lubanga warned center managers against malpractices. He called on all officials foreseeing the examinations to ensure a conducive environment for candidates in the next 18 days and adhere to all rules and regulations provided by Knec

.

"Ensure mobile phones which in the past have been facilitating cheating in some centers are locked up and kept by the supervisors," he told the center managers before opening the container and distributing KCSE examination papers in Turkana Central Sub County.

County Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Director Sammy Loitakol assured candidates that teachers are committed to ensuring that the credibility of examinations is enhanced so that they get their deserved grades and join courses or professions they are capable of handling.

In Baringo, County Commissioner Stephen Kutwa said security has been beefed up in all the 198 examination centers in Baringo County, with more than 15,502 candidates.

The County Commissioner said adequate security measures have been put in place and routine patrols are also going on in insecurity-prone areas.

“We have also deployed more officers in the said areas. All candidates in border villages will be doing their examination from their centers as all schools were reopened after normalcy returned,” he said.

“We also have enough vehicles to ferry the examination materials to respective centers and we do not anticipate to have any hitches on transportation as there is minimal rainfall,” the county administrator said.

In Trans Nzoia, County Commissioner Gideon Oyagi and County Director of Education Pamela Akello led the opening of the exam container in Kiminini Sub-County. There was tension at the County Commissioner’s office after a top KNEC official barred journalists from taking pictures during the opening of the exam container.

Trans Nzoia West sub-County Commissioner Emma Kebara led a security team to oversee the process and revealed that security arrangements have been made to ensure high standards during the exams to curb any exam malpractice in the county.

All principals in the county have been cautioned over exam malpractice and asked to cooperate with KNEC guidelines to ensure the smooth undertaking of the exams by learners.

“We have told all center managers to ensure they follow all the procedures set by KNEC so that we don't have cases of early exposure of exams or leakages. We are working in high alert to ensure smooth running of the exams,” noted Trans Nzoia West Sub County Commissioner.

In West Pokot, County Education Director Simon Wamae and Deputy County Commissioner Wycliffe Munanda said all invigilators, supervisors, exam managers, and teachers should ensure that phones are placed in a central place and not used during exams.

Mr Wamae said there is an increase of 18.4 percent in candidates in this year’s exams, and the exam containers have increased from 16- 25 compared to last year, with 13,662 candidates sitting this year’s KCSE.

7,270 are boys and 6,392 are girls in public schools, while 79 boys and 99 girls are writing the exams in private schools.

“Our candidates are well prepared and we hope for the best. Last year there were 11,536 candidates who sat for the exam. We have 53.21 percent boys and 46.79 percent girls,” he said at the official opening of the exam container in Kapenguria on Monday morning.

He warned against exam malpractices noting that have been put in place to ensure everything goes on smoothly.

Reporting by Mwangi Ndirangu, David Muchui, Mwangi Muiruri, Manase Otsialo, Stanley Ngotho, Winnie Atieno, Jurgen Nambeka, Kalume Kazungu, George Odiwuor, Wycliff Nyaberi, Kassim Adnasi, Titus Ominde, Florah Koech, Sammy Lutta, Evans Jaola and Oscar Kakai.