KCSE 2026: Cheating headache as 8-4-4 nears end

With only two KCSE exams remaining, malpractice continues to pose a persistent headache for education authorities, with concerns shifting from paper leakages to cheating networks operating within examination centres.

The challenges come amid tighter security measures aimed at preventing early exposure of examination papers.

At the same time, use of mobile phones into examination rooms has emerged as a new battleground in upholding the integrity of examinations.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has raised fresh concerns over examination malpractice, warning that cheating remains a challenge even as the country moves towards the conclusion of the 8-4-4 education system.

“Let me reiterate that the government will not tolerate any examination malpractice in any form or manner,” the CS said while launching the exam season in September

KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere has now declared zero tolerance for candidates found with mobile phones in examination centres, warning that possession of the devices threatens the integrity of national examinations.

Njengere said the council had sealed loopholes that could facilitate early exposure of examination papers but admitted that enforcing the rules inside examination centres remained a challenge.

He appealed to parents to take responsibility for ensuring candidates do not carry mobile phones when reporting for examinations, saying the majority of those sitting national examinations are teenagers.

“Seventy per cent of our candidates are teenagers. So parents, you should be the first ones to police the child. If the child leaves the house, make sure that those who have mobile phones leave them at home,” Dr Njengere said.

He warned that candidates found in possession of mobile phones would face the consequences provided for under examination regulations, insisting that the council would not entertain violations.

“We have sealed all the loopholes, insofar as early exposure is concerned. We don’t have any leakage that can happen. The only problem we have is people with mobile phones in examination centres,” he said.

But the threat of malpractice extends beyond candidates, with examination officials also under scrutiny over their conduct and the possibility of compromising the process.

Centre managers, supervisors, invigilators and security officers have been directed to switch off their mobile phones and surrender them to supervisors for safekeeping until the end of the examination exercise.

The measures are intended to minimise opportunities for interference with the examination process and ensure that those entrusted with safeguarding examination materials do not become conduits for malpractice.

Concerns over the involvement of school officials in examination irregularities have also emerged, with allegations that some administrators collude with examination personnel to facilitate malpractice despite heightened surveillance and security measures.

The challenge presents a difficult test for examination authorities, who must secure not only the examination papers before they reach candidates but also the integrity of the process inside schools.

The warning came as the Ministry of Education announced the successful completion of the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), alongside the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Olooltua said a total of 2,586,421 candidates had participated in the three major national assessments, marking the conclusion of a nationwide exercise involving thousands of examination centres.

Of these, 1,380,463 candidates sat the KPSEA in 30,965 centres, while 1,206,028 candidates undertook the KJSEA in 25,226 centres.

The completion of the two assessments now shifts attention to the marking and placement of junior school learners into Grade 10, based on their performance, selected pathways and subject combinations.

The ministry also administered two other assessments under its special needs and alternative education programmes, with 3,449 candidates taking the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA) and another 1,101 sitting the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA).

Olooltua said the examinations had been conducted successfully, with no major disruptions reported across the country.

“We have not come across any challenges as such. They are just very normal. There are a few areas where we had some heavy rains, which of course led to quick arrangements in terms of where maybe a chopper was required. That was done without any delay at all,” he said.

He credited the successful administration of the assessments to collaboration between the Ministry of Education, KNEC, the Teachers Service Commission, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, parents and teachers.

The PS also recognised the role played by examination centre managers, headteachers, principals, supervisors and invigilators in ensuring the exercise proceeded without major incidents.

Meanwhile, KNEC will begin marking candidates’ scripts, with KCSE given priority to facilitate timely selection and placement of learners into senior schools.

“The Kenya National Examination Council will commence the scoring of candidates’ scripts, and we will prioritise KCSE. The reason is this will be able to facilitate timely selection and placement of learners into senior school, which is actually Grade 10,” Olooltua said.

The KCSE examinations began on October 19 with low-candidature papers, including oral, aural and practical assessments in foreign languages, Kenyan Sign Language, music, Home Science and Computer Studies.