School heads and their accomplices who will be caught cheating in the national examinations will face 10 years in prison.
President Uhuru Kenyatta issued the warning during the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) conference in Mombasa County.
President Kenyatta said the country’s global image has been tainted and action needs to be taken to curb the vice.
He said there will be harsh punishment for those who cheat and those who abet the vice, adding that the stiff penalty is aimed at restoring lost dignity.
The President said the government will establish a law that will ensure those involved in exam cheating face up to 10 years in jail.
“This is one of the critical reforms we are undertaking to streamline examination administration so that cases of cheating are eradicated.”
“The penalties shall be paid by those involved in cheating and also those who assist to cheat,” said the President.
Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i had earlier said head teachers whose schools are involved in examination cheating will be sacked.
Mr Matiang’i said school heads will be held accountable for exam irregularities in their schools as the Ministry of Education seeks to streamline the education sector.