The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has released a draft bill (download it here) in which it has proposed stiffer penalties for exam cheats, the intention being to ensure that the integrity of national examinations is upheld. This is a wonderful idea as exam malpractices have been rampant in the past.

In the bill, the council proposes that any person who has under his or her control or is in his or her possession any material or information that relates to the contents of any exam paper or material without a lawful excuse will have committed an offense and upon conviction faces up to 10 years imprisonment or a fine not exceeding Kshs. 2 million or both. Those caught giving candidates examination papers or material before or during examinations face up to 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding Kshs. 5 million. Anyone who legally has in his or her possession or control any examination paper or material and loses it faces up to 5 years in the can and/or a fine of up to Kshs. 1 million. Anyone who cheats by sitting an exam on behalf of a candidate faces prison time of up to 2 years and/or a fine of up to Kshs. 2 million (the candidate is also guilty of an offence).

[caption id="attachment_4379" align="alignleft" width="177" caption="Prison time of up to 10 years for exam cheats"][/caption]

KNEC seems determined to put a stop to examination cheating, if these proposed penalties are anything to go by. And they seem pretty punitive. Of course unless one can make significantly more from participating in examination malpractices, which doesn’t seem likely. So hey, unless you have a loose Kshs. 2 million and a knack for crime, do the right thing. That Kshs. 2 million can buy a house in Kisaju (View Park) Estate for crying out loud!