KNEC cancels results for 840 KCSE candidates over involvement in exam irregularities

At least 840 candidates have had their KCSE results cancelled following their involvement in examination irregularities during the 2024 exams.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Thursday confirmed that this action is part of the ongoing efforts to maintain the integrity of the national examination process.

The CS explained that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is legally authorised to take such measures.

"The council is empowered in law, as provided in the Kenya National Examination Council Handling of Examination Irregularities Rules of 2015, Legal Notice Number 132 of 2015, Rule Number Eight, to withhold the results of any candidate or examination centre suspected of having been involved in an examination irregularity or malpractice pending completion of investigations," Ogamba said.

In addition to the 840 cancellations, the Education CS revealed that the results of another 2,829 candidates suspected of involvement in examination malpractice have been withheld.

These withheld results will remain under review until investigations are completed, with a final decision expected within 30 days of the official release of the examination results.

"It is unfortunate," the CS stated, acknowledging the challenges posed by examination malpractice.

Ogamba reiterated that KNEC's actions are in line with its commitment to upholding the highest standards and ensuring fairness in the examination process for all candidates.

The exam began on October 28 with 965,501 candidates sitting the assessment across 10,755 exam centres across the country.

CS Ogamba said that the Ministry of Education recorded 621 examination malpractices after the exams, adding the cases were reported across 198 examination centres.

The government had contracted 32,800 examiners last year, up from 29,876 in 2023, to ensure timely and accurate marking, adding that KPSEA has already been released.