19 KCSE officials suspended as 31 mobile phones nabbed at school in Kisii

A total of 19 officials overseeing the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams at Kebabe SDA Mixed Day and Boarding High School in Kisii County have been suspended following the discovery of widespread cheating at the institution.

The school's Center Manager, Deputy Center Manager, two supervisors, and 15 invigilators were deferred following the discovery of mobile phones and illicit exam materials, including answers and shorthand notes, within the facility.

The incident came to light when a Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) officer conducting routine monitoring at the school stumbled upon the illicit materials.

"It was reported by a KNEC officer that while he was going around on exams monitoring duties at Kebabe SDA Mixed Day and Boarding High School, he found a total of 31 mobile phones in one of the boys' dormitories while three were recovered in one of the examination rooms with questions and answers for  Biology and CRE subjects which were the day's exams streaming in," a police report documenting the incident reads in part.

"Also recovered were shorthand notes with information similar to the examination which was still in progress for the second session."

Authorities immediately alerted the Sub County Director of Education’s office, which dispatched a team to the school to collect the illegal materials.

The materials were handed over to the DCI in Kenyenya, Kisii County, who have now taken over the investigation.