The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has
issued a stern warning to those planning to engage in examination malpractice
as this year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations
began across the country.
Speaking at Kakamega School on Monday morning, where he
witnessed the opening of the English Composition paper, Ingonga said the
government will not tolerate any form of cheating and warned that those found
culpable will face severe legal consequences.
“I am going to talk to our courts so that even the bond
terms we press for will be serious for anyone found engaging in examination
irregularities — whether in small or big schools, rural or urban,” he said.
The DPP noted that his office’s firm stance against exam
cheating aligns with the government’s broader goal of promoting integrity and
eradicating corruption in all sectors.
“Corruption starts from any corner in the Republic, and
national examinations are not an exception,” Ingonga emphasized.
He said he had taken time off his busy schedule to
personally oversee the start of the national examinations at one of the
region’s largest schools, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring
the credibility of the exercise.
Ingonga later addressed students, urging them to uphold honesty
and integrity throughout the examination period.
As a gesture of encouragement, he donated Sh20,000 for the
school to provide lunch to the candidates.
Kakamega School Chief Principal Elphas Lubaso said the
candidates were well prepared for the examinations and urged them to maintain
discipline and integrity.
“We have 670 students starting their exams today, and we
wish them the very best. We have done our part; the rest is up to them,” he
said.
More than two million learners from Junior Secondary and
Form Four classes are sitting for national examinations this season to
transition to the next education levels.
A total of 960,000 candidates began their KCSE examinations
on Monday, paving the way for their transition to universities and tertiary
institutions.
Another 1,000,030 learners are concluding their Kenya Junior
Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) in preparation for entry into Senior
Secondary schools in January.
In Kakamega County alone, 50,148 students from public
schools and 1,212 from private institutions began their examinations under
heightened supervision.
County Commissioner Mwangi Meru and Kakamega Central Police Commander Vincent Cherutich also warned against examination irregularities, vowing that those caught cheating will face the full force of the law.
The examination container was opened under tight security at dawn under Meru’s watch before papers were distributed to schools across the county.
“Examiners must strictly adhere to regulations, including
avoiding entry into examination rooms with mobile phones, which have been a
source of exam leakages in the past,” Meru cautioned.
