KCSE: 78 people arrested for leaking exam content online, 7 impersonators caught

The government has intensified its crackdown on exam malpractice, announcing that 78 people have been arrested for abusing social media platforms to expose the content of examinations currently underway.

The Ministry of Education says security agencies are pursuing more suspects in what it describes as targeted, evidence-led operations.

According to the ministry, the arrests come as the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) enters its final stretch, with officials reporting generally smooth progress and “minimal cases of malpractice.”

In a statement issued on Saturday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said officers had identified “a few cases of individuals abusing social media platforms to expose the content of examinations in session.”

“Our security agencies have been swift and have so far apprehended seventy-eight (78) individuals. Through evidence-led operations, more suspects will be arrested and subjected to the full force of the law,” he said.

The CS also revealed seven cases of impersonation, mainly involving adult candidates, warning that those responsible would face criminal prosecution, while the affected candidates’ results would be cancelled in accordance with the Kenya National Examinations Act, 2012.

Such candidates, CS Ogamba noted, will additionally be barred from taking any national examination for up to three years.

He further highlighted ongoing measures to protect the credibility of the 2025 national examinations, including restrictions on mobile phones within exam centres, strict control of official transport for exam materials, and mandatory armed escorts for centre managers.

The CS also revealed that marking of the inaugural Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) exams, which ended on November 3, 2025, is continuing, with half of the machine-scored work already completed.

“A total of 11,342 examiners have reported for marking of KJSEA in 24 designated marking centres. Machine scoring of the multiple-choice items is ongoing, with 50 percent of the work already completed,” he stated.

“We commend the candidates, the contracted professionals and the general public for their support in delivering a seamless examination process.”