Eight teachers are being detained by police in Homa Bay county following their arrest for allegedly engaging in the ongoing Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education(KCSE) exam malpractices.
The teachers from a Secondary School in Homa Bay Town constituency were arrested on Monday evening after they were allegedly found photocopying an exam paper.
They are currently detained at Homa Bay police station.
While confirming this, the sub-county police commander Emmanuel Kiplagat said the suspects were found photocopying a Chemistry exam paper.
The school has 119 candidates sitting their KCSE exams.
“They took advantage and photocopied the Chemistry paper of a candidate who was sick. We still don't know the motive behind reproducing copies of the paper,” Kipalagat said.
While speaking to journalists at his Homa Bay town office on Tuesday, Kiplagat said the suspects include the centre manager, invigilators and teachers employed by the school board of management.
He disclosed that the arrest was made by a multi-agency team comprising officials from the Ministry of Education and the Nation Police Service.
“The exhibit collected would be used in court. We are currently detaining them in the station as we interrogate them over the matter, and get the motives and intentions" he said.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Education has replaced all exam officials at the school.
Kiplagat said candidates at the school continued with their exams on Tuesday.
“All officers manning the exams have always been briefed to maintain exams integrity. We want students to do exams in an environment where there is no interference,” he added.
He further told the media that the officers manning exams were advised not to engage in issues that may compromise the ongoing national exams.
"We will not hesitate to take action against those that will compromise the integrity of the exams," Kiplagat said.
The KCSE exams kicked off on Monday for the main paper. The exercise is expected to continue to November 22.
