Candidates give birth, write KCPE tests in hospitals

A number of candidates in Mombasa and Kwale counties are writing their KCPE exams in maternities after giving birth.

In Mombasa, a candidate is sitting her exams at Mrima Hospital in Likoni after she delivered a baby boy.

LABOUR PAINS

The pupil from Longo Primary started having labour pains on Tuesday morning before she sat her first paper.

According to Likoni deputy County Commissioner Erick Mlevu, the girl gave birth at around 8am. "She is still at the hospital, where she is continuing with her exams, and she is fine," said Mr Mlevu.

Two other candidates from the region are writing the tests from hospital beds after giving birth.

And in the neighbouring Kwale County, two candidates have given birth.

A pupil from Tswaka Primary in Lunga Lunga delivered a baby girl on Wednesday morning an hour before the Science paper started, according to Deputy County Commissioner Josephat Biwott.

PREGNANCIES

Another candidate from Voroni Primary School in Matuga wrote Tuesday’s exams at Kwale Hospital maternity wing, where she delivered a baby boy at around 8am.

Mr Biwott said the candidate from Tswaka Primary delivered at a private clinic in Shimoni and was later transferred to Shimoni Dispensary to sit her exams.

 He also confirmed that another candidate from Shimoni Primary School is writing the tests at the same facility, where she was hospitalised after falling sick on Tuesday. The administrator said the girl wrote the tests at night after her condition improved. “She is in a stable condition,” he said.

The county has been grappling with rampant cases of teenage pregnancies.