CS Machogu: We did not rush to release 2023 KCPE results

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu has refuted claims that the ministry rushed to release the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) results.

Speaking when he appeared before the National Assembly Education Committee to shed light on the matter, Machogu stressed that the ministry undertook due diligence in marking, verification and validation before releasing the exams.

The CS underscored that the results transmitted through SMS are provisional and that result slips are secured at the schools which print them from the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) portal and not SMS.

"The Ministry did not rush the release of the 2023 KCPE results. We undertook due diligence in marking, verification, and validation before releasing the exam results," Machogu said.

The CS for @EduMinKenya @machoguezekiel says the Ministry did not rush the release of the 2023 KCPE results. He said the Ministry undertook due diligence in marking, verification, validation before releasing the exam releasing the results. pic.twitter.com/M5rgjo2FMg

— EduMinKenya (@EduMinKenya) December 7, 2023

The 2023 KCPE results caused debate across different social media platforms after a section of parents, teachers and pupils decried unfair results.

Leaders such as Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya supremo also joined the force to criticize the Education ministry accusing the government of enabling the discrepancies.

In a statement on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, Raila claimed that the government had contracted an incapable company to manage the exams.

“The government was advised that the Mombasa Road-based company could not print and ensure its security and integrity, especially in such short notice," Raila said.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader further called out CS Machogu accusing him of failing in his role to secure the integrity of Kenya's education system put in place by previous education CSs.

"The buck stops with William Ruto. He knows what transpired in last year’s and this year’s national examinations. Education CS Ezekiel Machogu has failed in his role to secure the integrity of our Education system, particularly the National Examination. He has failed to uphold the systems set in place by Dr. Fred Matiang’i and Prof. George Magoha hence allowing the integrity to go downstream,' Raila said.