Kenya Strengthens Online Surveillance to Prevent KCSE Exam Fraud

The government has increased digital monitoring across the country as the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations draw near, aiming to prevent cheating and protect the integrity of the tests.

A multi-agency command centre has been activated to oversee online activity and respond quickly to potential examination-related threats. The National Command Centre for Examinations Security, based at the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, brings together officers from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of ICT, and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC). 

Its role is to detect and block digital interference and fraudulent schemes targeting the national examination process. Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Dr Raymond Omollo confirmed the centre’s activation during an inspection in Nairobi’s Starehe Sub-County. 

After opening a secure examination container for the ongoing KPSEA and KJSEA tests, Dr Omollo said the initiative demonstrates the government’s firm commitment to safeguarding the credibility of national exams.

“The centre allows us to access and assess information in real time, and where there are gaps, we immediately intervene,” he said. “Our officers are monitoring various social media platforms to identify and stop individuals attempting to defraud parents, teachers, or candidates with fake exam leaks.”

The move follows ongoing concerns about the early exposure of examination materials and the rise of online scams. In previous years, fraudsters have posed as insiders, collecting payments from the public for supposed leaked exam papers. Authorities say the strengthened monitoring is part of wider efforts to restore public confidence and ensure fairness for all candidates.

Security teams have also been stationed at national and county levels to support KNEC in administering the exams. Their duties include preventing malpractice and ensuring the safe transport and delivery of exam materials, especially in areas affected by disruptions caused by seasonal rains.