The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) Chief Executive Officer David Njeng’ere has addressed millions received from the charges on the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results transmitted via SMS.
While appearing before the National Assembly’s Education Committee on Wednesday, December 6, Njeng’ere revealed that the amount charged was shared among the mobile network operators, the SMS service provider, and KNEC.
According to him, reports that it used the SMS for misappropriation of funds and for personal benefit among officials at the council were unfounded.
Further, the CEO explained that KNEC and the service provider received the proceeds of the SMS charges at the ration of 80:20 respectively.
According to the CEO, the revenue is disclosed in KNEC’s Annual Accounts.
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KNEC Cornered Over Details of the Earnings
The CEO was responding to concerns raised by the committee’s chairperson Julius Melly of Tinderet who was on a fact-finding mission over the matter.
According to a statement from the committee, Melly expressed discontent over the financial burden the move placed on Kenyan parents, who were already grappling with the high cost of living.
“Considering the hard economic times, the charges are an extra load to already overburdened and struggling Kenyan parents,” the chairperson stated.
Also, the committee requested KNEC to give more details about the charges and the amount received.
In response, Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang who was present at the meeting, noted that a report would be presented before the committee.
Belio Kipsang Defends Results SMS Charges
Also, PS Kipsang noted that although SMS results were charged, the same results were available on the school portal for free.
Additionally, he stated that many Kenyans, however, prefer the SMS option because of its speed and timeliness.
During the session, the committee members pressed KNEC to ensure the validity of the recently released KCPE 2023 results, citing concerns about schools where learners reportedly scored similar marks.
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However, Kipsang assured the Committee that, upon investigation, the Ministry found no evidence supporting those allegations.
“What was being bandied around on Social Media was not the case on the ground,” Kipsang insisted.
Raila Issues Statement on SMS Saga
Opposition Leader Raila Odinga on December 6 accused the Kenya Kwanza government of contracting an incompetent company to manage the exams.
According to Odinga, the government awarded the contract to a company based along Mombasa Road in Nairobi in a deal he noted was influenced by political ties.
Also, he stated that the government had discontinued a communications service provider in the country from the tender of transmitting exam results causing the confusion that surrounded the results transmitted via SMS.
“The government was advised that the Mombasa Road based company did not have the capacity to print and ensure its security and integrity especially in such a short notice,” he stated.
