MPs seek answers to cancellation of Maranda’s KCSE results

By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU

NAIROBI, KENYA: MPs on Wednesday stepped up the pressure on a House committee to find out why the results of the Form Four exams of Maranda High School were cancelled.

The MPs said they want a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary for Education Jacob Kaimenyi and the Chief Executive of the Kenya National Examinations Council to get an explanation as to why Maranda was not ranked.

The vice-chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Education, Mr Julius Melly (Tinderet), had a hard time, when he told the committee that he had been in touch with the ministry and had seen an investigation report showing that 23 students cheated in the computer studies exam.

“You have mentioned irregularity, collusion and cheating, but you have not told this House why this students deserved the cancellation. When you speak beyond reasonable doubt, one presupposes that there was a report of an inquiry and an investigation. Can that report be tabled?” said Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i).

But Melly insisted that the report that led to the cancellation of the results had already been sent to Maranda. Melly added that the committee had also seen the report and was convinced that the cancellation of results was paramount.

“An irregularity is an irregularity. It is not that those students were singled out. An irregularity was noted in computer studies. The report has been sent to the school and the supervisors of education in Siaya County,” said Melly.

Melly noted that cheating had to be punished, so as to ensure that exams meet their core value as “the objective and fair” method to grade students.

Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda) added that it was wrong not to grade the students yet the subject in which irregularities had been spotted was an elective.

This is a dangerous statement that could potentially destroy the reputation of this great school

“The computer subject is not a compulsory subject,” said Gumbo.

Gumbo said Knec had ‘ulterior motives’ not to rank Maranda.

“In my heart I believe the top school in Kenya was not ranked because of reasons other than those that we’re being told,” said Gumbo.

Ali Wario (Bura) said the invigilators have to be punished for allowing the computer students to collude during exams.

“It is the invigilators to tell if someone has cheated, these reports that come much later when the exams are being marked are not helpful. What action has the examination council taken against the invigilators who were paid with public funds,” said Wario.

But Cornelly Serem (Aldai) was angry that the results were cancelled, yet the students were not even told. He said the Knec boss had to be fired or quit for failing to stop the malfeasance.

“In this country, even a murderer is given a chance to be heard. These students were never given a chance to be heard before their results were cancelled,” said Serem.

Kaimenyi and Wasanga are expected to appear before the Education Committee next week.