Private schools that will attempt to engage in malpractices during KCSE examinations will be de-registered by the Ministry of Education.
Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i said the ministry and TSC will also punish centre managers and examination officials found culpable.
The warning came a day after KNEC said six people had been charged with related offences.
They included three candidates, two of whom were found with mobile phones in school, and one who was found with exam material.
The others were a school principal, a teacher and an outsider who sent the teacher material purported to be part of this year's tests.
The culprits were nabbed in Wajir, Trans Nzoia, Nairobi and Siaya counties.
KNEC chairman George Magoha said on Sunday that several centre managers also attempted to open examination material ahead of time.
"Fortunately, all the cases were discovered and nipped in the bud before questions were relayed to candidates," he said in a statement.
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Matiang'i said students found to engage in cheating risk not writing the tests as opposed to having their results cancelled.
He asked candidates to take individual responsibility while taking the examinations.
The CS made the remarks at Aga Khan High School, Nairobi, where he witnessed the opening of Mathematics Paper 2 on Monday morning.
He addressed the press flanked by Nairobi regional commissioner Bernard Leparmarai and regional education coordinator John Olooltua.
The minister earlier inspected Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School in Shauri Moyo, where a candidate was found with a mobile phone.
The CS said security agencies airlifted exam material to Northern Kenya where access was cut off by heavy rains.
He said Kenya Private Schools Association gave moral and logistical support to the government to ensure the credibility and integrity of examinations.
Separately, Basic Education PS Belio Kipsang witnessed the opening of the examinations at Senior Chief Koinange in Kikuyu sub-county.
Teachers Service Commission chief executive Nancy Macharia went to Gilgil and
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development CEO Julius Jwan was to Kericho county.