Education CS Ezekiel Machogu has asked members of the public to report any attempts of examination leakages received through the phone, while cautioning against resending of such messages.
Machogu said that the public needed to be wary of fraudsters who take advantage of the national examinations to con unsuspecting members of the public by claiming to be in possession of examination papers.
He asked Kenyans to report any such culprits to the relevant authorities for quick action.
The CS said that they are working with the Communications Authority of Kenya and the department of ICT to nab anyone trying to spread messages or screenshots that purport to be genuine examination papers.
“We are working closely with ICT and the Communications Authority and in case you get anything on the phone purporting to be the examination papers, do not pass it on, but rather report to the security personnel. “If you share them to others then you will be considered as an accomplice,” warned the CS.
Machogu further revealed that that the government has sought services of the Cyber Crime experts whom he reiterated will be keeping an eye on social media criminals who have been conning the public in the name of selling genuine examination papers.
The CS spoke during a stakeholders meeting on the upcoming national examinations, where he urged the center managers to work with integrity by doing everything possible to protect the sanctity of the upcoming national Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
“I want to assure that this year’s examination has not and will not be leaked. I urge the center managers to ensure there is no exposure of any question paper. Firm action will be taken against you if you do otherwise, and the students’ results will be annulled,” he warned.
The CS further assured that the government has made all arrangements to ensure credible examinations, adding that there have not been any compromises whatsoever.
“We have confirmed that all is well, there are no leakages nor exposure and no one is aware of the contents of the exam papers. The integrity of the examination has not been compromised at any given stage,” he stated.
Machogu pointed out that the success and failure of the exams will be determined by the center managers and was optimistic that they will give their best in ensuring the success of the whole exercise.
“The success or failure of the upcoming KCSE, KPSEA and KCPE will be determined by your actions. Failure is not an option. I have confidence that you will make Kenya proud by ensuring all the rules and regulations are followed to the latter,” he stated.
The CEO Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) Dr. David Njeng’ere Kabita said that it was the responsibility of the teachers to make their students understand that this year’s exam papers have not been touched and that they should not fall prey to fraudsters.
“These papers have not been touched by anyone. Please do not interfere with them and if you fall for fraudsters and give these fake papers to your students then you are setting them up for failure. There are rules and regulations and contravening them is punishable,” he warned.
By Sitna Omar
