Don’t you dare! CS Ogamba warns exam cheats

Ogamba said arrests and prosecutions loom for those found aiding or abetting exam irregularities.

“The saddest thing is when I receive a report that someone involved in exam malpractice is an officer from the ministry or a school principal. These are our own people. But we have no choice, they must be arrested and charged,” he said while opening an examination container for the KCPE papers in Matuga, Kwale county on Monday.

For the integrity and credibility of the exams, teachers and all officials must uphold the highest standards of discipline, professionalism and ethics throughout the examination period, he added.

The 2025 KCSE exams began on October 21, with oral and practical papers, covering subjects like French, Music and Kenya Sign Language.

The final written exam will be on November 21.

“Our collective responsibility is to ensure the future of our children is protected by maintaining a credible and transparent examination process,” Ogamba said.

The CS assured examiners, examinees and Kenyans that the government has put in place proper mechanisms to ensure the smooth administration of national examinations.

He said all candidates, including those in areas affected by mudslides and floods in Elgeyo Marakwet County, will sit for their exams without interruption.

Ogamba emphasised the government’s commitment to improving the education standards, including the timely disbursement of capitation funds and the equitable allocation of resources.

“The government has ordered a comprehensive audit and rationalisation of schools to promote transparency and accountability,” he said.

This comes as reports of ghost schools and students who have been receiving hundreds of millions of shillings over the years abound.

“The rationalisation exercise is not intended to punish teachers or school heads, but to streamline operations and strengthen the overall education system for better service delivery.

“The many changes we are implementing are aimed at assessing and improving our education systems,” he said.

The government wants to identify what is working well and what needs to be strengthened, so that teachers and learners can feel included and benefit from a fair and efficient education system.

Ogamba also assured candidates that regardless of their performance, they will all be accommodated within the education system.

He said the government introduced the competency-based education curriculum to ensure every learner is allowed to progress according to their skills and interests, leaving no one behind.