NAIROBI, Kenya – At least five people have been arrested in Nairobi and other parts of the country for allegedly impersonating candidates in the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Wednesday condemned the incidents as a “foolish act” that undermines the integrity of national exams and jeopardises students’ futures.
“It is regrettable that a few individuals have attempted to engage in examination malpractice despite repeated warnings,” Ogamba said during the official opening of the Dagoretti Sub-County examination container in Nairobi.
“For instance, there are situations in Nairobi and other parts of the country where five or so people were arrested impersonating students. We’ve made it clear that this year’s examination scripts are individualised — they bear the actual photo of each student,” he added.
The CS warned that anyone, including teachers and officials, found abetting exam malpractice will face deregistration and criminal prosecution.
“We will not allow anyone to sabotage the future of our children or the global reputation of our national certification system,” Ogamba said.
A multi-agency security team has been deployed across the country to secure examination materials and enhance accountability during the testing period.
Ogamba said those arrested will be arraigned in court, adding that the ministry will issue weekly updates on arrests and disciplinary actions.
“Every Friday, we shall release a report showing how many have been arrested, where, and what action has been taken,” he noted.
Despite isolated incidents, the CS said this year’s national examinations are progressing smoothly.
Last week, learners concluded the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), and other national tests, with the KJSEA marking the first transition to senior school under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
Ogamba said the ministry will soon release guidelines for the implementation of Senior School Education ahead of the 2026 transition to Grade 10.
Meanwhile, the government has activated contingency plans to ensure that candidates in flood-affected areas can sit their exams without disruption.
“We have deployed helicopters, opened alternative routes, and set up temporary collection and distribution centres to ensure no candidate misses their examination due to weather disruptions,” Ogamba said.
KCSE examinations continue nationwide, with candidates sitting for Chemistry in the morning and English in the afternoon.
