Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced the cancellation of results for 840 candidates from the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) due to examination irregularities.
During the release of the 2024 examination results, Ogamba indicated that an additional 2,829 results are currently withheld as investigations are underway, expected to conclude within 30 days from January 9.
Ogamba expressed concern over the involvement of certain educators in facilitating examination misconduct.
“It is regrettable that a minority of contracted professionals and teachers continue to jeopardize the futures of our students by engaging in examination malpractices,” he stated.
He further emphasized that strict disciplinary measures will be enforced against 91 contracted professionals identified as having participated in these irregularities.
A total of 962,512 candidates participated in the examinations, which took place from October 22 to November 22, 2024.
In November 2024, Ogamba reassured parents, students, and educators that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) would no longer annul the results of entire examination centers upon discovering malpractice.
He clarified that cases of cheating would be addressed on an individual basis to prevent collateral damage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am here to report that we have implemented stringent measures, and this year, if any malpractice occurs, we will not penalize the entire school or center. Each case will be treated individually,” the Cabinet Secretary remarked.
In 2023, KNEC withheld the KCSE results of over 4,000 students due to alleged irregularities and annulled the results of four candidates for impersonation.
“There were no irregularities reported during the exams, but there were instances of impersonation,” stated former Education CS Ezekiel Machogu in January 2024.
Following investigations, KNEC released the results for Cardinal Otunga Boys in Kisii (432 students) and Nyakongo Secondary School (263 students), which had previously been withheld.
Other affected institutions included Mabera Secondary School located in Migori and Samoei Secondary School situated in Nandi.
Subsequently, the Cabinet Secretary affirmed that 120 contracted professionals were allegedly involved in misconduct and pledged to take disciplinary measures against them.
