Over one million candidates will today start sitting this year’s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams.

In Bungoma, Busia and Kakamega counties, some 113,819 pupils are expected to sit the exam, with education officials in the region optimistic of a smooth start.

According to Bungoma County Director of Education Jacob Onyiego, all preparations were complete. He said invigilators and security personnel had been assigned their various work stations and his office was closely monitoring incidences that could delay the exams.

Cautioned parents

In Kakamega, County Director of Education Fred Kiiru cautioned parents against withholding their children for fear of insecurity. In Busia, preparations were in top gear for better part of yesterday morning.

Teachers gave their candidates last-minute tips and encouraged them during rehearsals. Deputy County Director of Education Bunyala George Owuoche said his office, together with that of Deputy County Commissioner Titus Kilonzo, was working hand in hand to ensure safety of teachers and candidates. And head teachers in Vihiga County also exuded confidence that their pupils were ready for the exams.

A total of 16,195 pupils are expected to sit KCPE exams in the county.

Official assures

In Nyanza region, the Ministry of Education has put in place measures to ensure KCPE papers reach schools within Lake Victoria islands early.

Homa Bay County Director of Education Margaret Muandale said the exam storage facility would help serve examination centres on the islands. Muandale said her office had made arrangements to ensure all the 29,118 candidates sit their KCPE exams in a conducive environment.

Elsewhere, prayers dominated various primary schools in Nakuru and Baringo counties during rehearsals for KCPE exams on Monday. At Moi Primary School Kabarak, pupils and their teachers held prayers before the rehearsal started at 8am.

“We have prepared the students for the whole year and we are confident that they are ready for the examinations. We have played our part and now waiting upon the Lord to help us prosper,” said Nelson Kiptoo, the school head teacher.

At Nakoko Primary School in Tiaty, pupils cleaned their desks in preparation for the examination. Candidates from schools in areas affected by insecurity in Baringo County also took part in the rehearsals.

According to the head teacher of Mukutani Primary School Jackson Lekombe, candidates from his school will be sitting for their examinations at Marigat Boarding Primary. Schools from Mukutanii at the border of Tiaty and Baringo South were forced to close after pupils and teachers fled following bandit attacks early this year.

At the Coast, lack of adequate transport and poor state of roads could hamper distribution of exam papers in TaitaTaveta County. County Director of Education Phillip Wambua said more than 8,000 candidates will sit this year’s exam in the region.

Major challenge

“We received all the examination materials on time and the candidates are undergoing rehearsals. Our major challenge is inadequate vehicles to transport the examination materials and poor state of the road,” said Mr Wambua.

“We have far-flung areas that require four wheel drive vehicles which are inadequate. The affected areas include Rong’ee Juu Ward and Taita hills,” added the County Director of Education. He said they had sought the assistance of the county government to provide vehicles.

County Police Commander Fred Ochieng said security had been beefed up ahead of today’s examinations. Elsewhere in Murang’a, County Director of Education Charles Khayira visited most of the learning institutions to ensure stage is set for today’s examination.

Prison programme

At Nyeri Maximum Prison, nine students who have been in the prison school programme for the past eight years will sit examinations. And education officials in Embu County have requested for a standby helicopter to ease delivery of national examination materials in areas that may become inaccessible due to heavy rainfall.

County Director of Education, Margaret Mwirigi said they were worried that delivery and picking of exam materials could be inconvenienced if they rely on road transport alone.