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At least 44 cases of irregularities that occurred in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams are currently under investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), a new report shows.

The report of the Education Committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly also shows that the cases pending before court are 17, those under warrant of arrest are one while the finalised cases are six.

The report shows that there were 47 cases where mobile phones were used and twelve cases where exam materials papers were used. There was also one case of impersonation, the report shows.

In his submissions before the committee, the Director of Criminal Investigations Amin stated that if technology is left unchecked, the integrity of the national examinations is likely to be compromised and therefore the certificates will not be recognised, parents/Guardians and owners of private schools will be victims of examination conmen, while this situation may create an unequal environment with those exposed to the examination papers having advantage over other students.

Examination malpractices

Reads the report: “Knec should improve on the invigilation and supervision of examinations. They should have enough and thoroughly trained invigilators and supervisors to handle the examinations, making it difficult examination malpractices.”

The Committee was requested to consider putting in place strict regulations/laws that provide for stern administrative and disciplinary action against all those officers found engaging or aiding in examination malpractices.

To deal with the exam malpractices, the DCI proposed that tough penalties be recommended against those found guilty of examination cheating while examination officers found involved in exam cheating and malpractices should be severely punished including being discharged from their jobs.

Further the DCI proposed that schools should be advised to invest in CCTV cameras especially in examination rooms, while Knec should improve on the invigilation and supervision of examinations.

Examination irregularities

The judiciary through the Senior Deputy Registrar of the Judiciary said there are 10 ongoing cases and 15 concluded cases touching on examination irregularities in the courts.

Although the judiciary said there is a case backlog attributable to a number of challenges, it clarified that exam related cases have been processed fairly quickly due to active case management in criminal proceedings and other strategies instituted over the past decade to address backlog.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Dorcas Oduor said that in dealing with children in conflict and in contact with the law, they developed guidelines that increases awareness and understanding of the rights of children in conflict with or in contact with the law.