NAIROBI, Kenya – At least twelve individuals, including a university student, teachers, and examination officials, were arrested on Thursday, November 6, 2025, in a coordinated crackdown on malpractice in the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations. The arrests, which took place in Nairobi and Migori counties, have uncovered an organized network aimed at undermining the integrity of the national assessment, according to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).

The operation highlights the persistent challenge of exam cheating, a problem that threatens to devalue Kenya's education system. In Nairobi, detectives apprehended a university student at Kenya Muslim Academy in Huruma for allegedly impersonating a KCSE candidate. Preliminary investigations revealed the student was promised KSh 20,000 to sit the exam for another individual. Five invigilators, the centre manager, and a supervisor at the same school were also taken into custody in connection with the impersonation scheme.

In a parallel operation at Ugari Mixed Secondary School in Migori County, authorities detained two Board of Management teachers, a centre manager, and a supervisor over similar allegations of facilitating cheating. These arrests are part of a broader national effort to safeguard the examination process, with other cases of irregularities being investigated in Kisii, Nyamira, and West Pokot counties.

Official Condemnation and Vows of Action

Top government officials have issued stern warnings, vowing that all perpetrators will face the full force of the law. Speaking on Thursday, Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba reiterated the ministry's zero-tolerance policy on exam fraud. "I continue to warn Kenyans, please allow the students to sit the exams. We have indicated that this year's papers are individualized with actual photos of students. So when you send someone else, they will be caught," the CS stated. The Ministry of Education has assured the public that it has deployed extensive security and logistical measures to protect the credibility of the exams, which nearly one million candidates are sitting for.

The DCI has previously highlighted the growing threat of technology in fueling malpractice, with scammers using platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp to sell fake examination papers to unsuspecting parents and students. These operations often involve complex networks that require coordinated efforts to dismantle.

Stiff Penalties Under the KNEC Act

The suspects face severe penalties under the Kenya National Examinations Council Act of 2012, which was enacted to curb such offenses. According to the Act, any person who gains unauthorized access to examination materials and knowingly reveals the contents is liable for a fine of up to KSh 2 million, a prison term of up to ten years, or both. Furthermore, impersonating a candidate carries a penalty of imprisonment for up to two years or a KSh 2 million fine, or both. Those found guilty of willfully and maliciously damaging examination materials face a fine not exceeding KSh 5 million or a five-year jail term.

KNEC has consistently warned that any candidate involved in irregularities will have the results for the entire subject cancelled, and widespread cheating at a centre can lead to the cancellation of results for all its candidates.

A Perennial Threat to Educational Integrity

Exam malpractice is not a new phenomenon in Kenya. For years, the country has battled sophisticated cheating schemes that have sometimes involved rogue officials within the examination council itself. These scandals erode public trust in the education system and disadvantage students who have worked diligently and honestly. The use of mobile phones to circulate exam content and the smuggling of unauthorized materials into exam halls remain significant challenges. In response, KNEC has increased the number of distribution containers to 642 and continues to enforce a double-collection system for exam papers to prevent early exposure.

The ongoing arrests signal a renewed commitment from authorities to uphold the sanctity of the KCSE examinations. As investigations continue, the focus will be on prosecuting the individuals involved and dismantling the wider networks that facilitate this academic fraud, ensuring that the qualifications awarded to Kenyan students are a true reflection of their knowledge and effort.