'We are monitoring social media': CS Ogamba warns exam cheats as KCSE kicks off

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has issued a stern warning to anyone intending to compromise the credibility of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams which kicked off countrywide on Monday.

Some 965,501 candidates are registered for this year’s exam in 10,754 centres countrywide and according to the CS, those found in malpractices will not be spared.

“Anybody found engaging in exam malpractice will be arrested and prosecuted, whether it is a student, teacher, parent or government official,” the minister said while officiating the beginning of this year’s exam at Kibera in Nairobi County.

“Already, we are undertaking surveillance on social media and are taking action against sites purporting to have access to examination papers.”

Ogemba confirmed that all examination papers are secure and in safe custody, dismissing reports that some materials are in circulation.

While some papers like Home Science and Computer Science were taken last week, Monday marks the main commencement of the national exercise and candidates are set to sit English and Chemistry papers.

This year’s examinations will be conducted under new rules, where supervisors will be required to rotate the centres every week.

Examination containers will be opened across the country at 7 a.m. daily, under strict supervision to check against early exposure of the exam papers.

Additionally, CS Ogemba said exam officials will be barred from having mobile phones during the examinations; they will be required to surrender them to the supervisor who will lock them in a desk till the end of the exercise.

“In areas like Tana River where there were security concerns, the candidates were taken to take their exams from safety centres like GSU camps. Those affected by floods have also been taken good care of,” added the minister.