A file photo of candidates sitting the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) written examinations entered their third day on Wednesday, with three papers scheduled for candidates.

Candidates will sit Chemistry and General Science during the morning session, beginning at 8 am, before tackling English Composition and Essays from 2 pm.

Chemistry and its large-print version will take two hours, while General Science, Composition and Essays, including their large-print versions, will take two and a half hours.

Composition and Essays in Braille, as well as English for hearing-impaired candidates, will each take three hours.

The examinations are proceeding amid fresh concerns over malpractice following the arrest of a Kibabii University student in Bungoma County for allegedly distributing examination papers through Telegram.

Bungoma County Police Commander Omar Bika Arero said officers recovered a mobile phone suspected to have been used to circulate the papers.

He said detectives arrested the suspect before he could distribute the material to more people.

“Before he could properly get his plans underway, information had already reached our officers that he had already begun distributing that exam to others, he was arrested,” the police commander told a local daily.

The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court after detectives complete preliminary investigations, including establishing how he accessed the examination papers, whether he was acting alone and how widely the material was circulated.

Suspected examination malpractice incidents have also been reported in Garissa and Wajir counties, with investigators working to establish those behind the alleged irregularities.

The incidents come as the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) steps up surveillance and enforces stricter measures aimed at curbing cheating and safeguarding the integrity of the national examinations.

Among the measures is a restriction on the use of mobile phones by examination officials while examinations are in progress, alongside a ban on candidates wearing wristwatches.

KNEC has directed centre managers to ensure all mobile phones are switched off and secured in lockable storage facilities outside examination rooms until the day's examinations are completed.

Speaking in Nairobi, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba encouraged members of the public with credible information on suspected examination malpractice to report directly to KNEC via toll-free numbers 0800-724-900 and 0800-721-410.

"I caution candidates, parents and members of the public against individuals or online groups who are claiming to possess examination materials. Be vigilant so that you do not get conned," he said.

The CS called on all examination officials to be responsive to emerging challenges and maintain the highest standards of vigilance, professionalism and integrity as the examinations progress.

"The government will continue to monitor the exercise closely, responding to emerging challenges and ensuring that every candidate is accorded a fair opportunity to complete the examination," he said, noting that two examination centres in Moyale subcounty, Marsabit county, had been relocated to safer areas in light of ongoing clashes on the Kenya-Ethiopia border.