KNEC Withholds KCSE Results for Kalonzo-Linked Mama Malia Academy

As students settle following the release of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results on Thursday, January 9, students of Mama Malia Academy are still in limbo.

This is after the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) withheld the results of all 92 candidates from the private school run by the Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation.

KNEC informed the institution that it was investigating alleged complaints of cheating at the institution based in Tseikuru, Kitui County.

According to reports, the school Principal Naomi Ndambuki revealed that she was shocked to receive a letter from KNEC communicating the action, which has thrown the candidates into panic.

“The letter from KNEC did not have many details, only saying the findings of their investigation will be communicated later,” stated Ndambuki.

Efforts by Kenyans.co.ke to get comments from the school were futile after a phone call to the school management was answered, but dropped without giving any information.

The school is not new to the public eye. Established by Kalonzo’s wife, Pauline Musyoka, Malia Academy gained traction in 2022 after it registered a staggering improvement in the KCSE examinations.

The school was among the seven most improved schools around the county in 2022. In the 2023 KCSE examinations, the most improved student nationally came from the academy.

Mama Malia Academy is run by the Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation, which was established in 2005 to create a conducive environment for a wholesome democratic society.

The majority of the students, who are from poor family backgrounds and drawn from across several counties, are sponsored by the Kalonzo Musyoka Foundation.

The school has joined the list of schools that have heard their results withheld as the Ministry ties the knot on exam malpractices. Another school whose results were withheld is Lugulu Girls High School in Kakamega County.

The development, confirmed by the school’s principal, Dinah Cheruiyot, left parents and students of the national school, who had been eagerly awaiting the results, in limbo as they deliberated on their next course of action.

Matinyani Boys Secondary School has had results for several candidates cancelled in this year’s results.

While releasing the KCSE 2024 results, Education CS Julius Ogamba revealed that the results of 2,389 candidates were still withheld over suspicions of exam malpractices, pending the conclusion of an investigation within 30 days.