Principal Secretary for Basic Education John Ololtuaa said the government would not condone any malpractice as candidates sit their national exams

Principal Secretary for Basic Education John Olotuaa distributes exams to teachers after witnessing the opening of the container in Mbita town ,Suba North constituency/ ROBERT OMOLLO

The State has warned examination officials against engaging in irregularities as candidates begin sitting their national examinations on Monday.

This year, 1,380,463 candidates are sitting the KPSEA, while 1,206,028 candidates are sitting the KJSEA countrywide.

Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa speaks to candidates at Mbita Point International School, ICIPE in Suba North constituency/Robert Omollo

The PS said the government had put in place all the necessary arrangements to ensure the examinations proceed smoothly to completion.

“Teachers and other personnel manning the examination must avoid any examination irregularities. This is because none will be spared should there be any cases of cheating,” Ololtuaa said.

Speaking after distributing examination papers in Mbita, Suba North Constituency, Homa Bay County, Ololtuaa said the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) had set examination rules that must be observed by candidates, teachers and other personnel overseeing the examinations.

He said punitive legal measures would be taken against anyone found culpable of examination irregularities.

“The examinations must be handled with the sanctity they deserve. Cheating is prohibited, and those found culpable must face the full force of the law,” he said.

Examiners frisk candidates before they sit exams at Mbita Point International School, ICIPE in Suba North constituency/Robert Omollo

He was accompanied by Homa Bay County Commissioner Ronald Mwiwawi, Homa Bay Director of Education Eunice Khaemba and other government officials.

The PS said all arrangements had been made to ensure examination papers reach designated centres on time.

The KPSEA is expected to end on Wednesday, while the KJSEA will conclude on Friday.

Ololtuaa also supervised the commencement of the examinations at Mbita Point International School-ICPE.

He said a total of 342,005 field officers and teachers had been deployed to oversee the examinations countrywide.

“We're collaborating with other departments in the government to ensure this exercise takes place successfully. Adequate security is going to be provided for effective running of the exercise,” he added.

He expressed confidence that measures had been put in place to ensure the examinations proceed without hitches.

“We are prepared and government officials have been deployed to monitor the exams in various parts of the country. Let Kenyans have confidence that the examination will be undertaken successfully,” the PS said.

He said KNEC had recruited 50,873 examiners to mark the examinations.

“Marking will begin immediately after completion of the exams,” he added.

Mwiwawi said adequate security personnel had been deployed to ensure safety during the examinations.

“All modalities have been put in place to ensure the assessment is smoothly done. We have deployed adequate security to deter any hitches,” Mwiwawi said.

He urged parents to keep their children away from fishing during the examinations.

“I know this is a fishing community but let parents ensure their children keep off fishing during the exams,” he said.

At Mbita Point International School, the institution's head, Samuel MC’Miugo, said candidates had started the examinations without any challenges.

“We have begun well. No hitches have been experienced,” he said.