The warning comes in the wake of claims that some schools have devised all manner of schemes to leak the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) papers to their students.
Top education ministry officials have since denied existence of such set ups.
The President who was delving into the matter for the first time assured students and candidates that they will be shielded from unscrupulous individuals whose wish is to take advantage of their situation
President Uhuru Kenyatta has warned cheats of "dire consequences" as top State officials fight to defend integrity of the final examinations set to start next week.
The warning comes in the wake of claims that some schools have devised all manner of schemes to leak the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) papers to their students. Top education ministry officials have since denied existence of such set ups.
While opening the inaugural international conference on Early Childhood Development (ECD) and education, which brought together African nations yesterday, Mr Kenyatta promised that the government would deliver credible examinations "in line with the earlier trend."
“My administration has taken bold measures to make examinations credible and I commend those who work hard and long hours to achieve this. I condemn those who insist on corrupting our exam system," said Mr Kenyatta.
The President who was delving into the matter for the first time assured students and candidates that they will be shielded from unscrupulous individuals whose wish is to take advantage of their situation.
His pronouncements add to the seriousness with which the government is taking the exam issues evident in the heavy mobilisation of security apparatus to secure schools during the period. Interior secretary Fred Matiang’i who suspended leave for county security personnel until the exams are completed has been on the forefront in warning those planning to facilitate cheating that they will be promptly dealt with.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has named six counties where it says school principals have laid out elaborate plans to help students cheat in this year’s KCSE.
The national examiner listed Meru, Kiambu, Garissa, West Pokot, Kisii and Wajir as the areas to watch with Knec chairman George Magoha adding that parts of Nyanza were also on their watch list.
He said the council has given the names of principals suspected of involvement in the malpractices to security agencies.
Last year, some 1,205 Form Four candidates who cheated during the national examinations had their results cancelled. A Knec report revealed that most of the affected were found with mobile phones.
Mr Kenyatta also pledged more funds to support research and knowledge sharing for ECD pointing out that children stay longer in school if they are exposed to quality education.
The ECD plan will involve partnership between the national and county governments as Kenya aims to stay on track to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring that all boys and girls have access to quality ECD and pre-primary education by 2030.
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