Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.(Courtesy)
By David Njoroge
The Ministry of Education has confirmed several arrests following reports of fake national examination papers circulating online, as more than 3.4 million learners across Kenya began their 2025 national assessments on Tuesday.
The tests, overseen by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), will run until November 21, covering candidates in Grade 6, Grade 9, and Form 4 who are sitting the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) respectively.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the ministry had deployed 342,687 officials — including centre managers, invigilators, supervisors, and security officers — to ensure the examinations are credible and free from irregularities.
“All registered examination centres have been mapped to the nearest distribution hubs to ensure timely delivery of papers,” Ogamba said. “Centres remain out of bounds to unauthorised persons, and any misconduct will be dealt with firmly.”
The CS confirmed that police had made arrests linked to counterfeit papers, adding that investigations were ongoing. He urged the public to avoid purchasing or sharing any materials purporting to be leaked exam papers.
“We have received credible reports of fake papers being circulated, leading to arrests,” he said. “Members of the public should report such incidents through KNEC’s toll-free hotlines — 0800 721 410 and 0800 724 900.”
He also directed that any cases of police misconduct during the exercise be reported to the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) via 1559.
The ministry is working in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, the Teachers Service Commission, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, and other state agencies to secure exam materials and ensure a smooth process.
Ogamba commended schools, teachers, and parents for their preparation and appealed for integrity throughout the national assessments.
“We urge all candidates to uphold honesty and discipline. The credibility of these exams defines our national education standards,” he said.
