By AUGUSTINE ODUOR
Three KCSE candidates have been arrested in Garissa County and a high school teacher sent on compulsory leave for engaging in examination malpractice.
The Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) said the students were arrested with examination notes while the teacher failed to answer critical question on his role in examination irregularities.
The arrest of the three candidates brings to five the total number of candidates arrested in Garissa in less that a week.
Early this week, two candidates were arrested and arraigned in court over possession of examination materials in the same county.
County Director of Education Aden Abdulahi confirmed the arrests but warned that those found will be held accountable. He said with the through frisking and the warnings on exam malpractices, anyone caught smuggling examination materials would face the law.
The national examinations council has raised a red flag over fresh collusion attempts by teachers and students in Garissa County to cheat in the exams.
Council Chief Executive Officer Paul Wasanga said they are investigating unique cases where even after candidates have thoroughly been frisked; they are still caught with prepared notes in examination rooms.
“Where do they get these notes? It seems someone is helping them within,” he said.
Wasanga, however, said there are concerns in the county that some teachers are still colluding with candidates to cheat.
“We are warning them that this time is not like last year. We have stiff penalties and everyone will carry their own cross,” he said.
In last year’s examinations, at least 2,927 candidates in 154 examination centres had their results cancelled after they were involved in irregularities.
Of these, 1,600 candidates were from Garissa County and parts of Northern Kenya. The county was one of the 36 counties that were heavily involved in examination malpractices.
