Suspension of Knec officials looms as board holds first meeting

Knec Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kivilu 

Some Kenya National Examinations Council officials may be suspended as the new board meets for the first time Tuesday.

Sources told The Standard that the new board would make the decision on whether to suspend the council’s Chief Executive Officer Joseph Kivilu and eight managers based on ongoing investigations against the officials over exam leakages.

“They are already under investigations and the board, after being inaugurated, may decide to make such a decision as they deem necessary,” said an inside source.

This means the board may appoint an acting CEO as investigations get underway.

Record statement

Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery had last week instructed Mr Kivilu and eight other senior management officials to record statements with the police.

The names of the eight as listed by Education CS Fred Matiang’i are deputy secretaries for Examinations and Security Ambia Noor and Maundu Matenzewa as well as Principal Examination Secretary Thomas McKenzie.

Others were Deputy Secretary in charge of Reprographics Sarah Majani, Senior Deputy Secretary Bobby Nyagah, Senior Deputy Secretary in charge of ICT Geoffrey Gitogo, Principal Supply Chain Manager Michael Ndua and Deputy Secretary Richard Mwangangi.

The Standard has established that the police investigating the officers want them to return for further questioning on Thursday.

The officers and their boss were arrested last Thursday moments after Matiang’i dissolved the board.