Education CS Julius Migos Oversees KCSE Exam Opening in Mombasa, Calls for Integrity Amid Cheating Concerns

Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Migos on Wednesday morning led the ceremonial opening of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam container at the Deputy County Commissioner's (DCC) office in Kisauni, Mombasa County, emphasizing the need for unwavering integrity during the ongoing national examinations.

Image: Cabinet Secretery for Education Julius Migos during the opening of container In Kisauni Mombasa county.

Addressing teachers and exams officials during the exercise, CS Migos urged teachers in the coastal region to uphold the highest standards to prevent any form of malpractice. "It's not true that if you don't get the marks to get you to the University, you're a failure," he said, encouraging students to view education as a broader journey beyond exam scores.

The Education CS highlighted recent incidents of cheating, pointing fingers at adults for enabling irregularities. He referenced a case from yesterday in Nairobi, where a student reported peers entering the exam room with mobile phones. "Invigilators are to blame whenever a student uses any means of cheating," Migos stated. He added, "Adults are to blame for the irregularities whenever it occurs in our schools today."

Migos also addressed a malpractice case reported last week, revealing that authorities had already arrested several center managers. "We have already arrested some center managers to ensure integrity; the matter is currently under active investigation," he assured.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to inclusivity, the CS declared, "No student will be left behind, regardless of their condition." On financial matters, he dismissed rumors of fee increases, stating, "No fees have been raised to any category come next year." Insisting that most people do not get the entire statement when he was talking about the new fee structure come 2026.

Touching on ghost schools, Migos the explained ongoing efforts to verify school data amid concerns over non-existent institutions. "On schools that do not exist, we are taking overall data, analyze and know which schools/numbers that are there," he said. He attributed delays in capitation funds to unverified enrollment figures: "Capitation numbers were not verified; that's the main reason we have been delaying the capitation."

Regarding the transfer of funds under the Social Health Authority (SHA), Migos noted that the matter primarily falls under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). "The SHA transfer is more on the TSC; they are currently negotiating," he clarified.

Following his address, CS Migos visited Hassan Joho Girls Secondary School in Mombasa to inspect the ongoing KCSE examinations, interacting with students and officials to ensure smooth proceedings.

The KCSE exams, which began earlier this month, are a critical milestone for thousands of Kenyan students, with the government intensifying measures to curb cheating and promote fairness.