MPs to give report on KCSE leaks allegations

Kenyans will know the truth about what transpired in last year’s KCSE exams in a month’s time. After a meeting with Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu and Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) Chief Executive Officer David Njeng’ere, the National Assembly committee on education chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly will retreat to analyse the responses and findings before giving a final report that will tell Kenyans what exactly transpired in the exams that were marred by claims of massive exam leaks.

This is even as the CS and the KNEC Chief Executive detailed out a blow by blow account defending the results over claims of cheating and asked anyone with proof of the alleged leaks to report to authorities for investigations.

Speaking in Mombasa when they appeared before the committee, Machogu said there has been widespread misinformation and false narratives targeting the 2022 KCSE results.

In response to questions posed by committee members on whether there were incidences of cheating or other examination malpractices in 2022, the CS alleged there was a deliberate smear campaign that used fake media accounts to spread falsehoods.

“Facts and figures have been deliberately ignored. Misleading information has been peddled through the mainstream and social media to drive particular narratives and to profile certain schools and counties. Regrettably, this has been done at the expense of hardworking, honest and innocent children,” Machogu noted adding:

“In some cases, fake media accounts were created to spread falsehoods. Videos were manipulated purporting to be admissions of cheating. There were also instances of fake results being generated and purported to be from Knec. Sadly, many commentators in the leadership and media spaces continued the spread of this information without even a basic interrogation.”

Lenient bond terms

The CS told the Melly led Committee that some individuals took advantage of the public hearings by the committee “to settle scores with KNEC.”

“During the public hearings by this august committee, we have also witnessed individuals making wild and unsubstantiated allegations. Some of them appear to have a score to settle with KNEC. One of the individuals who appeared before the committee was Nelson Majimbo who was reported to have made allegations of irregularities in the examination process.

If a background check is done on the said individual, it will be established that he was dismissed as an examiner in 2015 for violating Knec rules and regulations,” he further noted in his response.

Melly and his team were seeking explanation from the Ministry of Education and the Kenya National Examination Council on what they termed as cases of abnormal curves reported in some schools in last year’s KCSE.