Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has issued a strong warning to KCSE 2025 candidates against participating in any form of examination malpractice, particularly the sharing of exam material on social media or involvement in impersonation schemes. The warning follows the arrest of dozens of individuals linked to unauthorized distribution of examination content online.
According to the Ministry of Education, security agencies are monitoring social media activity closely, including Telegram groups, WhatsApp chains and public forums where fake or leaked exam materials are often circulated. Ogamba said candidates must refrain from engaging with suspicious content as doing so constitutes a criminal offense under the Kenya National Examinations Act.
The ministry has raised concerns over candidates who attempt to gain unfair advantage by forwarding, purchasing or storing alleged exam papers. Several students have already been linked to ongoing investigations after authorities traced digital interactions associated with the 78 suspects arrested earlier in the week.
Ogamba emphasized that anybody found in possession of unauthorized exam materials will face cancellation of results, disqualification and a ban from sitting for national exams for up to three years. The CS added that the government is determined to break networks that profit from examination fraud.
Impersonation has also been flagged as a growing threat during the 2025 examination cycle. Officials confirmed at least seven cases where adult candidates allegedly posed as registered candidates in an attempt to sit for papers on their behalf. These cases are being handled by law enforcement authorities, and those involved will be charged in court.
Education experts say impersonation is driven by individuals seeking to secure higher grades or assist relatives and clients to access competitive university programs. However, authorities maintain that the practice severely undermines the credibility of national assessments and will be met with stringent penalties.
The Ministry of Education has urged candidates to focus on legitimate preparation and warned that surveillance mechanisms have been enhanced across the country. Security teams are stationed at distribution points, examination centers and transit routes to monitor any suspicious activity.
Ogamba reiterated that the government is committed to delivering credible examinations and candidates must avoid illegal shortcuts that jeopardize their academic future.
