The effective administration of national examinations across Kenya continues to be hampered by the persistent challenge posed by mobile phones. Dr. David Njengere, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), highlighted this issue while speaking at the Thika Sub-County offices during the opening of an exam container. He noted that adherence to examination regulations remains inconsistent, which compromises the overall integrity of the process.
Dr. Njengere disclosed that the Ministry of Education has circulated a directive requiring all invigilators, school administrators, and even non-teaching personnel, such as cooks, to surrender their mobile phones. These devices are then securely stored until the conclusion of the examination period.
Addressing concerns regarding the impact of heavy rainfall and flooding, the CEO confirmed that KNEC has deployed helicopters to transport examination materials to and from affected regions. This measure ensures the uninterrupted delivery and collection of answer scripts, even in areas where roads are impassable.
To prevent premature exposure of examination content, Dr. Njengere explained that KNEC now releases exam materials only after the first paper has been completed. Following the completion of that initial paper, all remaining unused materials are promptly returned to secure containers.
This year’s examination season is notable as one of Kenya’s largest to date, with thousands of candidates undertaking the national tests amidst stringent security protocols and enhanced logistical arrangements.
