The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) have launched a joint investigation after 17 candidates were caught with mobile phones during the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations in Marsabit County. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (EAT), has cast a fresh shadow over the integrity of the national exams.

The students were discovered in two separate examination centres in Moyale and Saku constituencies. According to a police report, nine candidates at Sessi Mixed Secondary School in Moyale and eight private candidates in Saku were found with the devices during routine checks by KNEC officials. Marsabit Central Assistant County Commissioner David Saruni confirmed the incidents and stated that a formal probe is underway.

Despite the breach of regulations, the nine students at Sessi Mixed were permitted to continue with their Chemistry Paper One examination after the phones were confiscated. The 17 confiscated phones have been handed over to the DCI for forensic analysis to determine the extent of malpractice and identify potential accomplices or wider cheating networks. The matter has also been escalated to the Sub-County Director of Education and other senior security officials in the region.

A Persistent National Challenge

This incident in Marsabit, where 4,126 candidates are sitting for the KCSE exams across 51 centres, is part of a larger, nationwide struggle against exam irregularities. It comes as authorities intensify efforts to curb cheating, which has increasingly migrated to digital platforms. Between 2024 and August 2025, investigators identified 51 Telegram channels linked to exam fraud syndicates, of which 32 have since been taken down. Fraudsters on platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp have been targeting students, parents, and teachers with promises of leaked exam papers. In response, the government has reportedly restricted access to Telegram during the examination period, a measure also taken in 2024 to prevent leaks.

The 2025 KCSE examinations, which involve 996,078 candidates, are being conducted under stringent new measures introduced by KNEC to safeguard credibility. These include the introduction of personalised question papers bearing each candidate's name and index number to prevent impersonation. Additionally, KNEC is piloting smart digital padlocks on 250 exam storage containers, allowing for real-time monitoring to prevent premature access to papers.

Government Vows Stern Action

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has issued a stern warning that any individual caught engaging in malpractice will face severe consequences. Shifting from past policies, the ministry has clarified that punishment will be targeted at individuals rather than penalising entire schools or centres. "We will not punish the whole school or the whole class, but... individuals who are actually involved in malpractice," Ogamba stated on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. This policy is underscored by the KNEC Act No. 29 of 2012, which stipulates that a candidate found guilty of possessing a mobile phone or any other electronic device will have the results for the entire subject cancelled.

The crackdown is not limited to candidates. Across the country, several arrests have been made involving teachers, university students, and school staff. In Narok County, a headteacher was suspended for flouting exam rules, while in Kajiado, two students were arrested and seven teachers were questioned over alleged irregularities. Impersonation cases have also been reported, with university students arrested in Nairobi and Kericho for attempting to sit exams on behalf of registered candidates. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Igonga, has affirmed that anyone found guilty of aiding or engaging in exam cheating will be prosecuted.

As the national examinations continue until November 21, these incidents highlight the complex and evolving nature of exam cheating in Kenya. The joint probe by the DCI and KNEC in Marsabit is expected to shed more light on the methods used by candidates and the syndicates that facilitate them, serving as a critical test for the enhanced security measures implemented to protect the integrity of Kenya's education system.