KCSE exam begins as security tightened

The Form Four national examination has began smoothly except in Turkana East.

The Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) airlifted a fresh batch of papers to Kapedo Mixed Secondary School following a bandit attack on a van ferrying question papers to the school on Monday.

Knec acting secretary Joseph Kivilu said 25 candidates in the school may have to be relocated, while security officers were increased in the region.

WITHOUT ANY ATTACK

Mr Daniel Namunwa, the school’s principal, led the candidates, examination officials and teachers in prayers ahead of their first paper on Tuesday.

“Our prayer is that our candidates complete their examination without any attack and that teachers counselling and leading them in revision be secure,” he said.

In Nairobi, few incidents were reported, despite many areas around the city experiencing downpours. Police were posted to schools and minimal transport hitches were reported.

However, 18 students at Faith Academy in Huruma were shocked to learn that they had not been listed as candidates. Although the headteacher said the students had not paid the exam fees, they insisted they had.

It is the second time the headteacher is involved in such a case.

In Ruiru, Kiambu County, a 30-year-old former matatu driver is among 132 candidates at Ruiru Boys Secondary School. Mr Charles Karuga is sitting for the examination seven years after he was first admitted to Form One, according the school principal, Mr Joseph Miano. 

In Baringo County, the examination started with minimal hitches despite heavy rains.

Examination materials were delivered in time to Barpello, Chemaolingot, Tangulbei and Churo in Tiaty Sub-county, which is prone to attacks.

Sub-county Commissioner Daniel Kurui said plans had been put in place to ensure that the materials are stored near the centres to minimise transport problems due to the rains. He said his office was working with Turkana County officials to intensify patrols at the porous Kapedo border, where armed bandits attacked and set ablaze a vehicle ferrying examination materials on Monday.

Meanwhile, security was beefed up in schools on the West Pokot-Turkana border.

In Bomet, no incidents were reported. Education officials told the Nation that the examination started smoothly in the county’s 172 centres despite heavy rains.

Similar security was maintained in Mombasa County, where the examination started without irregularity or hitches.

The situation was similar in all the 19 centres in Lamu County. Lamu County Commissioner Njenga Miiri said additional police officers were posted to all schools, especially in areas that were mostly affected by the June-July attacks in which more than 70 people were killed.

At the Naivasha Maximum Security Prison in Nakuru County, 18 inmates are candidates. They include one death row inmate, six life prisoners and 11 others serving long sentences.

Reported by Sammy Lutta, Ouma Wanzala, Oliver Musembi, Wycliff Kipsang, Flora Koech, Oscar Kakai, Geoffrey Rono, John Shilitsa Benson Amadala, Rebecca Okwany, Kalume Kazungu, Macharia Mwangi, Francis Mureithi, Martin Ndirangu, Wycliffe Muia and Maryanne Gicobi