In the media

The Kenyan government ordered an audit of 790 public secondary schools as part of the 2024/2025 financial review to enhance transparency in the education sector. The audit will examine financial management systems and procurement, with officials required to provide relevant documentation. Authorities aim to strengthen internal controls, ensure compliance with financial rules and safeguard public funds.

A recent verification exercise has revealed that the government of Kenya has been disbursing Ksh.1.1 billion to ghost students in public schools over the years. The number could even be higher, considering that the verification process is not complete, with 934 schools yet to present their data to the ministry. The verification process has already led to the closure of 10 secondary schools that the Ministry of Education says had no students.

Kenya is a major hub for academic ghostwriting, with an estimated 40,000 shadow scholars in Nairobi alone, producing essays, dissertations, and coursework for international students. Earnings range from under 1 GBP per page to thousands of pounds for dissertations. Despite the 2022 ban on essay mills in the UK, ghostwriting practices persist, now increasingly intertwined with generative AI.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) of Kenya has arrested five individuals from key public institutions for fraudulently securing public sector jobs or benefits using forged academic documents. The Commission will pursue criminal charges and civil recovery of illegally earned salaries. They also urged public institutions to strengthen credential verification to prevent fake qualifications.

To uphold integrity during exam season, the Rongo University has installed surveillance cameras in examination halls and increased the number of supervisors and invigilators. Additionally, the university has introduced anonymous reporting systems, allowing students and staff to report fraud through secure channels. These measures have significantly reduced cheating and reinforced the importance of academic integrity through strict enforcement of policies.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EEAC) has uncovered bribery, corruption, procurement irregularities, and fraudulent acquisition of public property in five public universities in Kenya. These malpractices have resulted in the loss of 6.4 billion shillings in public funds. The universities are now under investigation for criminal offenses.

The Cabinet Secretary for Education has called for quicker prosecution of all persons involved in exam fraud, warning that delays could encourage repeat offenses. He recommends measures like individualized penalties and placing candidates' names on exam papers to improve accountability. These steps aim to prevent issues such as unregistered candidates, unauthorized possession of materials, and altering results.

Kenya's public sector is facing a crisis as an audit by the Public Service Commission revealed more than 2,000 cases of fake academic and professional certificates among government employees. It was found that 787 civil servants had used false credentials, ranging from fake secondary and tertiary education certificates to altered grades. This widespread fraud, which affects several government institutions, undermines public confidence. The proposed legislation aims to tackle the problem, but urgent reforms are needed to restore integrity and accountability.

Education Cabinet Secretary raised concerns about school heads potentially inflating candidate numbers for national examinations in Kenya. Similar concerns were raised during the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam, where 9,354 students registered but did not sit the exam. To curb "ghost candidates, this year KCSE registration will be done based on the data in the National Education Management Information System.

The former Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has welcomed the Ministry of Education's decision to ask parents to pay school fees for students in national schools via the e-Citizen platform. This new government initiative aims to improve service delivery, bring transparency and protect both students and parents. However, some are expressing concern about the practical challenges and the country's state of readiness for such a digital transition