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{
"id": 236922,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/236922/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dr. Mwiria",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Education",
"speaker": {
"id": 190,
"legal_name": "Valerian Kilemi Mwiria",
"slug": "kilemi-mwiria"
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"content": " Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to issue a Statement that was requested by hon. Mukiri, Member of Parliament for Molo, on alleged leakage of KCSE Examinations. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, my Ministry acknowledges the concerns raised by hon. Members of Parliament and members of the public in connection with the media report on the allegation of leakage of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination papers by a cartel operating in Mombasa. First, I would like to say that for anything to be declared a leakage, it has to be a situation where examination papers have been made available a few days before the actual day of sitting of that particular examination; say, five days or a week. That way, potential candidates will have an opportunity to read the questions and prepare the answers well in advance. Already, the acting Minister for Education and the Kenya National Examination Council November 1, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3291 (KNEC) have issued separate statements on this matter and have clarified some of the misconceptions that have been associated with whole saga. First, the allegations of the existence of a cartel selling papers appears to have been localised in Mombasa. So far, we have not received any such reports from any other part of the country. Secondly, my Ministry and the police have launched massive and intensive investigations on this matter. This is already going on. Thirdly, none of the examination papers availed to us for verification to time of the examination have been confirmed to be authentic. There are cases where there have been allegations of leakage, but the papers found not to be authentic. Fourth, there is no evidence that the examination paper that has been produced indicates that any of our candidates have had access to the examination paper before the day of the examination. In the case of the Chemistry Paper that The Standard Newspaper reported about, we were first told that it was seen at 4.00 a.m. In today newspaper, they have stated that it was seen at 6.00 a.m. That is quite possible because as examination papers are being released, some unscrupulous supervisors might release them earlier on the day of examination. That has been the case. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, really, cases of leakage occurred in 1991, but the situation was corrected as some hon. Members may know. We take matters of security very seriously and so the examination papers are kept very securely. It is not only the police officers who have access to the examination papers, but also the education officers. In fact, the police only ensure that the papers are safe in the armoury. So, essentially, there is a lot of effort to ensure that there is tight security. The question we are now asking ourselves is that, if, indeed, these examination papers are only available on the day of the examination, why would anybody want to spend Kshs100,000 on a paper that is not likely to be of much benefit and not report the leakage unless the person has another motive? Finally, there has been no evidence showing that any of the examination papers have been compromised. I wish to assure hon. Members that all examinations are proceeding smoothly in all parts of the country. The reports originating from Mombasa have been made after the examinations have been finalised or are in progress. It is, therefore, surprising that we continue to create fear and confusion to our children without caring about the damage such stories might cause. We are committed to ensuring that the examinations are fair because it is the only way of judging who merits what rewards in this country. As a Ministry, we have nothing to hide. In fact, we are ready to deal with this matter and get to the root to ensure that Kenyans maintain their confidence in our examination system."
}