Homa Bay County police arrested eight teachers over alleged involvement in malpractice during the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams. The teachers, employed at a secondary school in Homa Bay Town constituency, are accused of photocopying a Chemistry exam paper.
According to Sub-County Police Commander Emmanuel Kiplagat, the incident occurred when the teachers reportedly took advantage of a candidate’s illness to obtain and photocopy the exam paper. “We still don’t know the motive behind reproducing copies of the paper,” Kiplagat noted. Among the arrested were the center manager, several invigilators, and teachers employed by the school’s board of management.
The arrests were conducted by a multi-agency team involving officials from the Ministry of Education and the National Police Service, which aims to uphold the integrity of the national examination process. “The evidence collected will be used in court. We are currently detaining the suspects at Homa Bay police station as we interrogate them to uncover their motives and intentions,” Kiplagat stated on Tuesday.
In a swift response to the incident, the Ministry of Education took immediate measures by replacing all exam officials at the affected school. This step aimed to ensure that candidates would continue their exams without further interference. Education officials emphasized that these actions were essential to prevent disruptions and maintain the integrity of the national exams.
Commander Kiplagat further reiterated the commitment of law enforcement agencies to uphold exam integrity. “We want students to take their exams in an environment free from interference. We will not hesitate to take action against anyone who undermines the integrity of the exams,” he stated.
