Naema Celestine 
Faith Nyongesa
An exam supervisor is currently being held at Marsabit Police Station after being arrested on suspicion of possessing Kenya’s national KCSE exam papers.
The arrest took place around 4 p.m. on Monday, as confirmed by Marsabit County Police Commander Leonard Kimaiyo.
According to Kimaiyo, the arrest was made after officers from the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) discovered the suspect in possession of eight copies of the Kiswahili literature exam paper. Investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of the breach, with KNEC reaffirming its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the national examination process.
In a separate case, thirteen It’s, including nine invigilators, have been taken into police custody for their involvement in exam malpractice at Nyamninia Secondary School, located in Gem Yala sub-county.
The arrests followed the discovery of photocopied answers to Mathematics Paper 2 during the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams. Those detained include the school’s exam supervisor, a Board of Management (BOM) teacher from St. Mary’s School Yala, as well as Nyamninia Secondary School’s centre manager and his deputy.
The malpractice was uncovered when KNEC officials, who were monitoring the exam, noticed suspicious behavior among students. This prompted the officials to conduct a search, which led to the discovery of the photocopied Mathematics exam answers.
According to the police report, the authorities found the incriminating material in the possession of both a candidate and the exam supervisor, Mr. Isaac Wesonga.
The situation at Nyamninia Secondary School appeared to involve more than just a few isolated incidents of cheating. Several students were reportedly caught trying to hide or destroy the photocopied answers, suggesting a coordinated effort to cheat.
The severity of the situation led to a quick response from the authorities, including a multi-agency team consisting of Deputy County Commissioner Evans Otieno and the sub-county director of education.
KNEC officials, who had been overseeing the exams at the school, acted swiftly after detecting the suspicious activities. They immediately reported the incident, prompting a full investigation into the malpractice. The swift action taken by the officials and law enforcement has underscored the seriousness with which exam cheating is being tackled in Kenya.
The arrests at Nyamninia Secondary School are part of broader efforts by the Kenyan authorities to curb exam malpractices, which have become a growing concern during national examinations.
Exam integrity remains a critical issue for the education system, with KNEC and law enforcement agencies working to prevent such breaches and ensure that all candidates are assessed fairly and honestly.
Meanwhile, KNEC has assured the public that it is fully committed to addressing any irregularities that may arise during the exam period. The council has emphasized that it will continue to take stringent measures to maintain the credibility and reliability of the KCSE exams, including pursuing legal action against those found guilty of involvement in malpractice.
The situation has highlighted the ongoing challenges that Kenya faces in combating exam cheating. Despite efforts to tighten security and monitoring, incidents like these serve as reminders of the lengths some individuals and schools will go to in order to gain an unfair advantage.
Authorities remain focused on ensuring that the exams proceed smoothly and that those responsible for any irregularities are held accountable.
