A police handcuff in a past arrest /Photo Courtesy/
In a significant development in Homa Bay County, eight teachers from Pala Masogo Secondary School were arrested on charges of exam malpractice, specifically related to the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
This incident is part of a wider crackdown on examination irregularities as authorities strive to maintain the integrity of the examination process.
According to Homa Bay Sub-County Police Commander Emmanuel Kiplagat, the arrested teachers, who include the school’s center manager, invigilators, and members of the teaching staff, are accused of engaging in a range of illegal activities.
Notably, they allegedly photocopied a chemistry exam paper within the school premises. This paper was reportedly intended for a hospitalized student, raising further questions about the intent behind the malpractice.
The investigation revealed that the suspects had accessed and distributed exam materials ahead of the scheduled examination time, a serious violation of examination protocols. Following the arrests, law enforcement officials confiscated evidence that will be critical in building the case against the individuals involved.
In response to this breach of exam integrity, the Ministry of Education has taken decisive action by replacing all exam officials at Pala Masogo Secondary School. This move aims to ensure that the ongoing exams can proceed without further disruption, reinforcing the commitment to uphold academic standards.
To address these challenges, the Kenyan government has introduced additional monitoring and security measures this year, with the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) emphasizing its commitment to secure exam administration.
Advanced oversight measures have been implemented to prevent unauthorized access to exam papers, and both local law enforcement and KNEC officials have vowed to take strict legal action against anyone found to be engaging in examination malpractice
