Reprieve as council allows Maranda students to re-sit exam

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

NAIROBI, KENYA: The 23 Maranda high school candidates whose results were cancelled will be allowed to sit examinations this year, Examinations boss has said.

Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) chief executive Paul Wasanga said the cancelled results will be re-looked at and noted that the three year ban will not apply this year.

Wasanga was responding to a barrage of questions from MPs who demanded to know why results of the 23 candidates were cancelled yet it was an optional subject that was affected.

“We hear candidates appeal after results have been cancelled. They can appeal and we shall look if there is anything we did not do,” said Wasanga.

He spoke as Members of Parliament sensationally claimed that Knec officials called Maranda School principal three days before release of examinations to extort money.

House committee on education science and technology members heard that the Knec officials demanded money to forestall an imminent cancellation of the results of some 23 candidates.

Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura and the Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo said the cancellation of results that also saw Maranda School not ranked was ‘pre-arranged’ and accused Knec of sabotage.

Knec chief executive Paul Wasanga admitted that some fraudsters used his telephone number to extort money from some school principals and noted that he had reported the matter to the police.

“Some principals received calls from my phone number and this was strange because I do not know how they managed to do that,’ said Wasanga.

He absolved his team from abetting examination malpractice and challenged the MPs to produce any evidence to that effect.

Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo also demanded to know why Knec cancelled results of the 23 Maranda students yet it was an optional subject.

“Computer studies subject was an optional subject. All students except three sat eight subjects and the eighth being the optional one. Why didn’t the Knec consider this?’ he said.