This archive report was first published on 16 October 2019.
As the national examinations approach, the government must ensure that the process is conducted properly to maintain the integrity of the exams.
More than 2.4 million candidates will sit national examinations in Kenya to determine their transition to the next level of education. Administering exams to such a large number of candidates requires sufficient planning and efficient delivery to avert cases of delays and malpractices.
According to the government, measures have been put in place to ensure smooth operations during the exams, including mobilising 180,000 teachers and providing 479 metallic containers with special security padlocks for storage of examination papers. The government has also doubled the distribution centres in 338 sub-counties.
However, it is not enough to have containers and security padlocks. The government must also ensure that people with integrity are involved throughout the process chain. There should be no doubt that punitive measures will be taken against those who attempt to condone malpractices.
Incidents of insecurity in parts of the country, such as the northern region, should also be addressed to prevent harm or displacement of candidates. Similarly, contingency measures should be put in place to deal with the potential effects of the heavy rains currently being recorded in western Kenya.
Published on October 16, 2019, 17:04.
