KNEC Chief Executive Officer Paul Wasanga said the KNEC Act 2012, which was recently signed by the president has given them powers to crack down on students who cheat as well as fraudsters who con students and parents that they can supply examination papers/MIKE KARIUKI
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 25 – The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has vowed to enforce a new law that imposes a 10 year jail term or Sh2 million fine on exam cheats.
KNEC Chief Executive Officer Paul Wasanga said the KNEC Act 2012, which was recently signed by the president has given them powers to crack down on students who cheat as well as fraudsters who con students and parents that they can supply examination papers.
“Nairobi is the biggest place where we have a lot of fraudsters who extort money from candidates and parents with the pretence that they are going to supply them with examination papers,” he said.
Under the new laws, teachers, school workers or any individual found aiding students to cheat in the examinations will not be spared either.
“We know that some of the candidates in some private schools in certain regions like Mombasa have collected money with the sole intention of cheating in the examinations and in fact they have coined a colloquial word ‘Gomba,’ to mean examination leakage,” Wasanga said. “We are aware of that and they are being tracked.”
Wasanga revealed that tight security measures have been put in place in schools countrywide, including areas which experienced ethnic violence like Tana River to ensure examinations are not disrupted.
KCSE and KCPE candidates displaced from Tana River due to violence have also been urged to report to any school where they will be allowed to sit for the examinations.
Students sitting the KCSE exams are due to commence their written papers on Friday.
The Kenya National Examinations Council further stated that any KCPE candidate who was displaced should report to any school to be registered for the exams set to begin on December 4 this year.
Wasanga said any such individual should report to their respective District Education Officers who will facilitate their transportation to an examination centre.
He indicated that no candidate will be allowed to miss sitting their examinations due to circumstances beyond their reach.
“Candidates also need to have a bit of initiative because if they are taking the examinations, by now they should be knowing whether they are tasking them or not and take the initiative to use that window,” he said.
He observed that those who may not have been registered as a result of their school head’s actions should also use the opportunity.
“I want to assure all the candidates that all measures have been put in place so that they are able to take the examinations in a conducive environment. We have also given a window to those may not have been registered by headmasters who used their money. If they appear, we will be able to see if they can be offered an examination and follow these principals,” he stated.
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