Kenyan MPs fault probe into exam cheating

Education Committee Chairperson Sabina Chege

MPs want a fresh audit on the irregularities that rocked the 2015 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

The legislators met Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i Tuesday and expressed concern over the audit earlier conducted by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) officers.

They said the findings of the council could not be relied on to reach conclusive findings on the irregularities.

During the closed door session at Parliament's County Hall, Dr Matiang'i was grilled on the cancellation of the results for over 5,000 students whose fate now hangs in the balance.

The investigations are also focusing on the cartels within and without Knec, and are believed to be closing in on more people involved in the selling of examination papers.

"We met the CS and although these are still matters under investigation, he confirmed to the committee that there are more people being investigated. We are confident that the work the CS is doing will bear fruit so that we deal with this problem once and for all," said Education Committee Chairperson Sabina Chege.

The CS did not address journalists. It is not clear how many more people are under investigation, which is said to have roped in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

But the ongoing probe has been faulted by two MPs on grounds that the initial audit was commissioned by people who are now suspects.

According to Ababu Namwamba (Budalang'i), the investigations have already been compromised as the former Knec officials who ordered the audit are persons of interest in the investigations.

The MPs expressed fear that the audit may lead investigators nowhere unless it’s undertaken under a fresh lens.

"You cannot conduct investigations based on recommendations of a discredited body," said Mr Namwamba.