Author: Hezron Rooy

KEPSHA Co-Founder Dies During Tenure as Kisumu Public Service Chair. Kisumu County has lost a distinguished leader, Charles Karan, a founding member of the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) and Chairman of the Kisumu County Public Service Board (PSB). Karan passed away while receiving treatment at the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa. Karan’s death was announced by Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o, who revealed that Karan fell ill during a conference in Mombasa last week and was subsequently hospitalized. Governor Nyong’o described Karan as a career teacher, a dedicated administrator, and a key contributor to the county’s human resource…

KUPPET Risks Collapse as TSC Withhold Union Funds. The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) awaits confirmation on whether it will receive its monthly union contributions after experiencing a three-month lapse in funding. Kuppet’s financial stability is threatened due to the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) suspension of union dues following Kuppet’s nationwide strike in August. This dispute has led the union to take legal action, seeking court intervention to restore its funding. Kuppet has sued TSC for failing to deduct and remit union dues from teachers’ salaries, pointing out that TSC’s approach mirrors tactics previously used in a…

The Art of KCSE Exam Cheating: Policy Makers’ Disconnect and Educational Inequality. The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam season has brought renewed attention to examination irregularities, with incidents involving unauthorized phones, detentions, and confiscated exam materials reported daily. Education Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang recently addressed these cases, asserting that no exams were officially leaked, though increased vigilance could be revealing more cheating incidents. A recent rumor circulated regarding the suspension of Telegram, attributed to its alleged role in sharing exam materials. Although this claim was proven false, platforms like Telegram have reportedly facilitated cheating, with students accessing…

Autopsy Reveals Shiners Boys KCSE Candidate Died of Deep Stab Wounds. An autopsy performed on an 18-year-old KCSE candidate from Shiners Boys Secondary School in Nakuru County has confirmed that he died due to two severe stab wounds to the chest and abdomen. The student, identified as Vincent Ngugi Muchiri , succumbed to his injuries following a Saturday night altercation. The examination was conducted by government pathologist Dr. Titus Ngugu at Nakuru Level 5 Hospital. Escalating Incidents of Bullying Bullying incidents continue to be a significant issue in schools, particularly intensifying during examination periods. Despite multiple complaints and efforts to curb…

CS Ogamba Rebuts Catholic Bishops’ Claims on CBC and University Funding, Says Education sector is stable. The Kenyan government, through the Ministry of Education has strongly refuted statements by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), describing them as inaccurate and misleading to the public. Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba (Education) expressed dismay over what they saw as the Church’s disregard for government progress in healthcare, education, and security. CBC and University Funding The CS emphasized the achievements made in these programs since the CBC was introduced in 2017 and the new funding model rolled out in 2023. Ogamba argued that…

UoN Draws Criticism for Appointing COO with Unrecognized Qualifications. The University of Nairobi (UoN) is facing criticism for disregarding advice from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) by proceeding with the appointment of Brian Ouma as its Acting Chief Operating Officer (COO). Ouma was selected to oversee non-academic departments and manage daily administrative functions, but his academic credentials have sparked controversy. In July, UoN’s Council appointed Ouma as the Acting COO, a role the EACC has since labeled irregular. The commission investigated and questioned Ouma’s qualifications, identifying his degree as unrecognized in Kenya. Specifically, the EACC pointed out that Ouma’s…

Government Launches Maisha Card Distribution for KCSE Candidates. The Kenyan government, led by the Ministries of Interior and Education, has officially commenced the distribution of Maisha Card IDs to students sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams. This initiative, launched by Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Bitok at Ngomeni Secondary School in Kilifi County, targets over 900,000 Form Four students nationwide. The primary goal of the Maisha Card program is to reduce the hurdles students often face when transitioning from secondary education to tertiary institutions. Bitok stated that by issuing IDs before students leave…

Ministry of Education to Release KCSE 2024 Exam Cheating and Malpractice Statistics Next Week. The Ministry of Education is set to unveil detailed statistics on malpractice and cheating incidents in the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams next week, following the exams’ conclusion on November 22. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos stated that the report will provide insights into the prevalence and types of malpractices observed during the exams, with multiple cases already under investigation. The Ministry has reported numerous instances of exam cheating across various counties, with several adults arrested for their involvement. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogama…

Security Boosted Across KCSE Exam Centers After Exam Cheating Incident. Security has been tightened in secondary schools across the country as the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams continue. This comes after an incident in which 34 mobile phones were confiscated from an examination room at Kababe Mixed Secondary School in Kenyenya Sub-County. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is now investigating the case to identify and prosecute those involved in the cheating attempt. Invigilators uncovered the mobile phones during a biology exam, suspecting they were used to compromise the examination’s integrity. Following this discovery, the local Deputy County…

Ministry of Education Partner with Criminal Justice System to Fast-Track Examination Malpractice Cases. The Ministry of Education is actively collaborating with the legal system to expedite the resolution of cases related to examination malpractices. Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang, while supervising the distribution of the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examinations (KCSE) papers in Nyeri, emphasized that the Ministry is working closely with investigative agencies and the judiciary to ensure swift justice. The strategy, he indicated, is intended to discourage any further attempts at exam malpractice as the KCSE enters its final week. Dr. Kipsang stated that the…