Nakuru: Security personnel in Nakuru County are intensively monitoring the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, which commenced on Tuesday morning, to prevent any form of interference. The government has reinforced its commitment to maintaining the integrity of these national exams by establishing a multi-agency team to ensure all necessary systems are operational.
According to Kenya News Agency, Nakuru County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara affirmed that the examinations began smoothly with all preparations set to maintain the exams’ integrity and avert any cheating incidents. The commissioner emphasized the importance of high standards of integrity among managers at the 480 examination centers across the county, following a tour of several centers. The government is employing a multi-sectoral approach, involving various state departments in the management of the examination process.
Commissioner Kibaara stated that he would conduc
t random visits to examination centers to monitor the exams’ progress and warned that security officials remain vigilant to address any cheating or interference. He urged officers handling the examinations to adhere to established guidelines and emphasized the necessity for a positive relationship between center managers and security officers to create a conducive environment for the learners.
A total of 46,588 learners from 11 sub-counties are set to take the KPSEA, while 107,537 candidates, consisting of 54,204 boys and 53,333 girls, will sit for the KCSE examination. Commissioner Kibaara highlighted that exam personnel must maintain high accountability levels to prevent exam leaks and stated that private vehicles would not be allowed to transport exam materials to the centers.
He reported that no logistical or personnel challenges had been encountered thus far and that security agencies had mapped all areas in the county, working closely with sub-county education officers to ensure the exams’ success. ‘W
e have deployed enough security officers to the exam centers in all 11 sub-counties. We don’t expect any problem or any challenge during this exercise,’ Mr. Kibaara stated.
The commissioner warned that any unauthorized individual found with exam materials before the scheduled time would be arrested, and he assured candidates of adequate transportation arrangements for exam papers, invigilators, supervisors, and security personnel. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education has assured parents that no child will miss the exams due to registration issues, sickness, natural calamities, or pregnancies.
Mr. Kibaara cautioned center managers, security personnel, and teachers against engaging in examination malpractices, stating that officers had been instructed to conduct in-depth investigations should any malpractices be reported, ensuring appropriate action is taken. The commissioner underscored that exam integrity must be upheld, contrasting past instances where cheating was common, leading to ill-prepared graduat
es.
The Kenya Primary School Examination (KPSEA) candidates aim to achieve 40 percent in national tests, with the remaining 60 percent of their marks being awarded through school-based assessments administered at Grades 4, 5, 6, and 7 under the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which has replaced the 8-4-4 system.