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Twelve students from Kitonyini High School in Machakos County have been barred from sitting the remaining Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) papers after they were allegedly caught with mobile phones in the examination zone.
Kalama Sub-County Education Officer Laban Siwili confirmed the incident, saying the affected candidates will not be allowed to continue with the remaining papers. Education officials said possession of the phones violated rules set by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
The incident comes as KNEC tightens security at examination centres to protect the integrity of the national exams. In fresh instructions issued on November 1, 2026, KNEC CEO David Njengere directed centre managers to ensure all mobile phones are switched off and kept in lockable lockers outside examination rooms during sessions.
“All mobile phones in the examination centre must be switched off then kept in a lockable locker outside the examination room when the examination session is on,” Njengere stated.
The council also reminded managers that candidates may not wear any wristwatches, including smartwatches, in examination rooms. Centres must instead provide wall clocks. Managers were further directed to keep approved weekly lists of authorised personnel, who must carry their original national identity cards while on duty.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has also taken a firm stance on malpractice. Speaking at the opening of the KCSE examinations in Nyamira, he warned that offenders would face severe consequences.
“The government shall have no mercy on anyone who engages in any examination offences or malpractices,” he said, adding that possession and misuse of mobile phones “remains one of the greatest threats to the integrity of national examinations.”
The 2026 KCSE examinations have now entered their third week, with KNEC seeking to strengthen supervision and the handling of examination materials.
Under KNEC rules, candidates are prohibited from bringing mobile phones and other unauthorised electronic devices into examination rooms, and violations can lead to cancellation of results.
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