Unregistered pupils allowed to sit test

There was confusion at Lugari Primary School in Lugari Constituency after it emerged that 23 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education candidates were not registered for the examination.

Officials from Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) were forced to photocopy examination papers for the affected learners.

All the affected learners had earlier been forced to repeat Class Seven and only joined Class Eight after their colleagues had been registered.

Western Regional Director of Education Mr Steven Barongo told The Standard on the phone that he was aware of the issue and was trying to get in touch with the sub-county director of education who was in a better position to comment on the matter.

“We would like to know whether the learners were registered or not and why, we shall share more information immediately we get the brief,” Barongo said.

Elgeyo Marakwet county commissioner Mr John Korir said security had been beefed-up in Kerio Valley to allow KCPE candidates to write their papers without any disruption.

Korir said enough security officers have been deployed to 33 schools mapped to be at risk in Kerio Valley.

In Marakwet East, pupils from seven primary schools were allowed to sit their examinations in their schools, despite not attaining the number of candidates as per the Ministry of Education requirement of 30 candidates.

“'We are prepared as a security team to see proper and secure administration of National examinationS this year. We have deployed enough security, especially in parts of Kerio Valley, and we will closely monitor to avoid any ugly incident,” said Mr Korir.

In Uasin Gishu County, Education Chief Administrative Secretary Dr Sarah Ruto maintained that adequate security had been provided in the neighbouring Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo Counties to ensure that the candidates in the warring Kerio Valley are provided with a conducive environment to sit their exams.

In the neighbouring West Pokot, county commissioner Mr Apollo Okello while supervising the opening of exam centres in Kapenguria said enough security officers had been deployed in troubled areas along the West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet borders.

Meanwhile, Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA) in Nandi County were happy with how the distribution of exam papers was done.

Mrs Mary Tanui, KPSA chairman Nandi branch, said candidates across private schools in the county commenced writing the examinations without a hitch in all centres.

In Turkana, county commissioner Mr Wambua Muthama said schools had been supplied with enough food supplies to ensure the candidates are well fed during the exam period.

In Trans Nzoia, County Commissioner Mr Sammy Ojwang said necessary measures had been put in place to tame malpractices.

He disclosed that the county has 32,353 candidates sitting the exams across 498 centres.

Elsewhere 10 candidates sat their papers in hospital after giving birth.

Ministry of Education Principal Secretary Mr Julius Jwan said the government will not discriminate against expectant candidates but will give them the much-needed support as they sit the exams.  

Three expectant girls are sitting their exams at Embu Level Five Hospital, while in Kisii and Nyamira counties, three pupils delivered babies on Sunday and are admitted at the various hospitals where they wrote their papers.

One candidate delivered at the Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital and two others at Nyamira County Referral Hospital.

Nyeri County Director of Education (CDE) Ms Sabina Aroni said one student from Mukurwe-ini sub-county was sitting his exams at the Nyeri Provincial General Hospital after being involved in a motorcycle accident.