Gov't tightens measures to curb cheating in 2026 KCSE exams

BY LAWRENCE ONGARO

The government has put in place stringent measures to prevent examination malpractice during the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said the government would remain vigilant throughout the examination period and warned candidates against attempting to steal or compromise examination papers.

“This time, the government will be vigilant against examination malpractice. Any student found stealing examination papers will have their results cancelled,” Ogamba said.

He said the Ministry of Education would ensure that no form of cheating is tolerated during the examinations.

Ogamba said about 3.6 million candidates are expected to sit the 2026 KCSE examinations, making security and proper administration of the tests a key priority for the government.

The CS spoke on Friday, October 23, during the graduation ceremony of more than 3,000 students at Thika Technical College.

El Niño preparations

Ogamba said the main challenge currently facing the government was the El Niño rains expected to occur at any time.

He said the government was already assessing areas considered highly vulnerable to the effects of El Niño to prepare for possible disruptions during the examination period.

“We are already trying to assess areas that are at high risk of El Niño so that we can prepare on how to deal with the situation,” he said.

The CS also addressed the ongoing lecturers’ strike at public universities, saying negotiations were continuing over the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Graduates of Thika Technical College during their graduation ceremony on Friday. /Lawrence Ongaro.

The agreement involves Sh9.7 billion in salary increments for university lecturers.

Ogamba urged the lecturers to return to classrooms as negotiations continue, saying the government was engaging the National Treasury to establish how the required funds could be secured.

“It is important to understand how these funds will be obtained so that we can reach an agreement under the collective bargaining agreement,” he said.

Ogamba also urged the Thika Technical College graduates to be innovative and use the skills acquired during their training to create employment opportunities for themselves.