Three Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) contracted examination agents found themselves in court on Friday, November 8, 2024, after being accused of facilitating examination malpractice in the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams. The individuals, identified as Wilson Limakou, Sila Poriot, and Mercyline Cheruto, were arrested at a private examination centre within West Pokot Sub County, where they had been entrusted with the responsibility of managing the administration of the exams.
The charges against the three stemmed from their alleged failure to prevent examination irregularities, as required by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) regulations. It is alleged that the accused allowed candidates at the examination centre to possess unauthorized electronic devices, including mobile phones, which are strictly prohibited during the exam. The phones, according to authorities, were found to contain examination papers, a serious violation of the exam’s integrity.
The malpractice was uncovered on November 5, 2024, when police officers, acting on a tip-off, raided the examination centre and seized the mobile phones that the candidates had been using to access unauthorized materials. The devices were suspected of containing either questions from the exam or answers, a practice that undermines the fairness and transparency of the examination process.
The KNEC, which is responsible for overseeing the conduct of national exams in Kenya, has a zero-tolerance policy for any form of malpractice. Section 40A of the Kenya National Examinations Council Act No. 29 of 2022 provides a clear framework for the conduct of examination officials, holding them accountable for any actions that might compromise the integrity of the examination process. The prosecution has argued that the three accused individuals breached this section by allowing the candidates to possess and use mobile phones during the exams.
The court proceedings took place before Chief Magistrate Benard Ondego, where the accused denied the charges. Each of the three was granted a bond of Sh10,000, with sureties of similar amounts, pending the next hearing. The magistrate has set November 12, 2024, as the date for the mention of the pre-trial, at which time the case will be further reviewed.
The arrest of the three agents has raised concerns over the growing problem of examination malpractice in the country, particularly as the KCSE exams are ongoing. KNEC and other stakeholders in the education sector have been making significant efforts to curb cheating and ensure that the exams are conducted with the highest level of integrity. However, this incident highlights the challenges faced by examination authorities in maintaining strict control over all exam centres and officials involved.
Examination malpractice is a serious offense in Kenya, with severe penalties for those found guilty. In recent years, KNEC has intensified its efforts to combat malpractice by using advanced technology to monitor exam centres and detect any suspicious activity. Despite these efforts, incidents like the one in West Pokot demonstrate that the problem persists and requires continuous vigilance.
As the case against the three agents proceeds, it serves as a reminder to all involved in the administration of national exams to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations set out by KNEC. The Kenyan public has long viewed the KCSE exams as a critical point in a student’s educational journey, and any form of malpractice tarnishes the hard work of those who take the exams honestly.
The outcome of this case will likely have far-reaching implications for the enforcement of exam rules in the future. It will also serve as a cautionary tale for other examination officials, signaling that any involvement in malpractice will result in severe legal consequences.
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