Five people, including a candidate from Baringo County, were arrested on Wednesday after they were caught engaging in malpractice during the ongoing KCSE examinations.

Among those arrested were four teachers including the centre manager of Kamimei Secondary School in Nandi County after investigations showed that a paper belonging to one candidate from the centre was circulating on social media.

In Baringo County, a candidate of St. Mary’s Secondary School was detained at Salawa Police Post on Tuesday after he was caught with a mobile phone displaying CRE Paper 1 answers. Two schools in Garissa County also had cases of malpractice after phones were confiscated.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos has vowed stern action against what he said is a syndicate attempting to compromise the integrity of the exams, following widespread cases of malpractice over the last two weeks.

"Investigations are ongoing, and those investigations will reveal the extent of these cartels involved in these attempts. Once we determine this, we will proceed with prosecutions and ensure that whoever is involved faces the full force of the law," Migos said.

This comes even as 19 officials attached to Kebabe SDA Secondary School in Kisii County recorded statements with the police after 34 mobile phones containing questions and answers to the exams were found within the school compound.

According to reports, 34 mobile phones were confiscated from the school compound on Tuesday following a multi-agency sting operation. Nineteen teachers including the centre manager, were suspended and recorded statements on Wednesday morning to facilitate investigations into the matter.

"Hizo simu zote zilikuwa live zinafanya kazi. Pia kulipatikana makaratasi madogo yenye yalikuwa yameandikwa exam ya jana ya CRE na Biology. Kulikuwa na vitabu vidogo vidogo yenye wanafunzi walikuwa nayo. Hii ni centre ambayo intelligence ilikuwa inaonyesha ingekuwa na shida, sasa inaangaliwa kwa karibu," said Kenyenya DCC William Kaibet.

In Nyamira County, detectives are investigating a case where a quality assurance officer from the Ministry of Education slapped a candidate until she fainted.

A police report indicated that the officer found the candidate chewing suspected unauthorized material and slapped her several times.

In Migori County, a candidate who was sitting her exams at the Migori County Hospital died on Tuesday.

The CS is expected to release a full report of the incidents of malpractice in the coming week.