Three students arrested smoking bhang in Lamu as KCSE starts
As the 2014 KCSE exam started Tuesday, two candidates from Lamu County had to sit their first papers in police cells after they were caught smoking bhang moments before the exam started. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The two were arrested alongside another form three student a few hours before the exam kicked off Tuesday.
- The two had to do their English papers at the Lamu Police Station and were expected to be arraigned at the Lamu Law Courts.
- Knec legal officer in-charge of Lamu Andrew Nyachio said they were making plans to ensure the students sit their exams within the police cells.
- Meanwhile, the KCSE examination started well with security tightened in all the 19 centres in the entire Lamu County.
Two Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam candidates from Lamu’s Bujjra Boys Secondary School will be forced to sit their exams in police cells after they were arrested for being in possession of bhang.
The two were arrested alongside a Form Three student after they were found in possession of and smoking the bhang in the school a few hours before the exam kicked off Tuesday.
The two had to do their English papers at the Lamu Police Station and were expected to be arraigned at the Lamu Law Courts on Tuesday afternoon.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) legal officer in-charge of Lamu County, Andrew Nyachio, however, said his agency was making plans to ensure the students sit their exams within the police cells.
“Our mandate is to ensure those candidates sit their exams even if it means doing it in the police cell.
“They had registered and it is their right to do the exam. We don’t want any student missing out on these exams for any reason,” added Mr Nyachio.
EXAM STARTED WELL
Meanwhile, the KCSE examination started well, with security tightened in all the 19 centres in the entire Lamu County.
Lamu County Commissioner Njenga Miiri said more police officers were posted to all schools especially those located in areas that were mostly affected by the June-July attacks that left over 70 people dead.
Mr Miiri said the aim of the national government was to ensure nothing disrupts the exams and that students in the region do the exam in a well-secured environment despite what happened in the past three months.
“We have already posted enough security officers to all the centres expected to be used for the KCSE exams.
“Students and even parents should not be worried by anything. We are on high alert.
“Everything is under control and I wish all candidates in my county and Kenya generally success in their exams,” said Mr Miiri.
Knec’s Mr Nyachio also said the exams were going on as planned.
COMMENDABLE DISCIPLINE
“Everything is going as planned. Security is okay and so far all is well. The students have also displayed commendable levels of discipline,” said Mr Nyachio at Lamu Bujjra Secondary School.
Mr John Nzinga, the Lamu West District Education Officer said despite the challenges facing the county this year, he was very optimistic that good results would be registered in the 2014 KCSE exams.
“Many students were forced to stay away from school during the attacks in June and July, but what I am sure of is that good results will be registered,” said Mr Nzinga.
Lamu County has 1,127 candidates sitting their KCSE exam in 2014. Some 1,038 of them are from Lamu West Sub-County, while only 89 candidates are from Lamu East Sub-County.
