KENYA: Catholic Bishops Express Deep Concerns Over KCPE Results Anomalies
Kenyan Catholic Bishops Addressing Journalists at St. Mary's Pastoral Center, Nakuru.
Rose Achiego Ande
In a statement issued on November 29, 2023, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) has voiced bewilderment and serious reservations regarding the recently announced Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results. The bishops questioned the credibility of the results, highlighting alarming anomalies such as entire classes scoring the same marks in a subject, mix-up of subjects and individual results, and the posting of results for exams not taken, including sign language.
The statement, signed by KCCB Chairman Most Rev. Martin Kivuva, called for a thorough review before the selection of form one students. The bishops expressed concern over the potential impact on the future of Kenyan children, emphasizing the need to address incompetence in the examination process and combat corruption.
The bishops reiterated their earlier concerns about deep systemic issues within the education sector and called for a collective effort to resolve these challenges for the sake of future generations. They assured the public of their solidarity during these difficult moments, offering prayers for guidance in helping the less fortunate and uplifting the hopes of the nation.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Vice President Faith Odhiambo joined the chorus of criticism, urging the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) to conduct an audit of the KCPE results to address the raised concerns. She emphasized the importance of restoring the credibility of the exam council and urged swift action to provide clarity for affected students and their families.
Despite KNEC’s acknowledgment of issues with the results, including delays in the SMS platform and instances of identical marks for a whole class, it maintains that these did not amount to cheating. The LSK vice president called for expedited resolution to ensure students can have peace of mind during the festive season.
Members of Parliament led by Tinderet MP Julius Melly and Marakwet West legislator Timothy Kipchumba Toroitich, have also expressed concern over the irregularities in the KCPE results. They announced plans to summon Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu to address the perceived incompetence in parliament, vowing to conduct thorough investigations into the fairness and credibility of the exams.
The integrity of the examination council, known for its historical credibility, is now under scrutiny, with calls for prompt and transparent actions to reassure the public about the competence and fairness of the examination process.
