17 Students Caught With Phones During KCSE Exams in Marsabit County

Seventeen students were caught with mobile phones while sitting for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams in Marsabit County, raising fresh concerns about exam integrity. The incidents occurred in two constituencies; Moyale and Saku during routine checks by KNEC officials.

Nine students were apprehended at Sessi Mixed Secondary School in Moyale, while eight private candidates were caught in Saku. Marsabit Central Assistant County Commissioner David Saruni confirmed the incidents, stating that investigations are underway. According to police reports, KNEC officials noticed the students carrying mobile phones and immediately demanded they hand them over.

“After the recovery, the nine candidates were allowed to continue with their Chemistry Paper One exam, code 233/1, at Sessi Mixed,” the report said. The confiscated phones were handed over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for further analysis. The case was escalated to the sub-county director of education, the Moyale Deputy County Commissioner, and the Sub-County Criminal Investigations Officer.

Currently, 4,126 students are sitting for KCSE exams in Marsabit County across 51 centres. Nationwide, 996,078 candidates are taking part in the three-week KCSE examinations, which are scheduled to end on November 21.

The incidents highlight ongoing efforts to tackle cheating, especially by organized syndicates operating on Telegram and WhatsApp. Between last year and August this year, authorities identified 51 Telegram channels linked to exam fraud. Of these, 32 have been shut down, while 19 remain pending. Officials note that most of the remaining channels are largely inactive and have lost subscribers.

Fraudsters have been targeting students, parents, and school heads, promising exam answers or leaked content. KNEC and the DCI have warned that the use of mobile phones or any unauthorized devices during exams is a serious offence that carries strict consequences.

The Marsabit cases underscore the challenges in maintaining credible exams, even as authorities intensify monitoring. KNEC officials continue to conduct routine inspections across the country to ensure a fair and transparent KCSE examination process. The crackdown sends a clear warning to students attempting to bypass exam regulations, reinforcing the importance of honesty and integrity in national assessments.