VIDEO: D-Day for candidates as KCPE exam starts [Photos]

At least 330,000 candidates in 14 counties across the Rift Valley will sit the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam that starts today.

Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya early supervised the launch of distribution of examination papers.

Security personnel and examination centre managers at the Nakuru Town West DCC's office on March 22, 2021. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Centre managers and security personnel led by County Police commander Tito Kilonzo converged at Nakuru West Deputy County Commissioner's office in Kapkures where the container with examination papers was opened.

Speaking at the launch, Natembeya said from the 330,000 candidates, 51 per cent are boys while 49 per cent are girls.

Rift valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya supervises the opening of KCPE exam container at Nakuru West DCC's office in Kapkures, Nakuru county, on March 22, 2021. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Natembeya said “strangers” will not be allowed in schools.

"A stranger is anybody who is not a centre manager, supervisor, security officer or an education officer," he explained.

Police officers help centre managers carry KCPE exam papers in Thika on March 22, 2021. [Dennish Ochieng, Standard]

According to the Regional Commissioner, adequate measures have been put in place to ensure even learners in flood-hit areas of Baringo will sit their examination.

Meanwhile, security personnel were warned against giving pupils rifles to take photos with during and after the examination as has been witnessed in the past.

Education CS George Magoha said all the 479 containers carrying exam materials across the country were opened by 6am in readiness for dispatch to various centres.

An examination centre manager leaves Nakuru Town West DCC's office at Kapkures in Nakuru County after collecting KCPE examination materials on March 22, 2021. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

He said a multi-agency team comprising education officials and Interior ministry personnel will monitor the exercise.

Speaking in Thika while overseeing the opening of the container, Magoha directed all teachers manning the exercise to arrive at their KCPE centres on time to avoid hiccups on the three-day national exercise.

The CS said two candidates in Thika will sit this year’s KCPE exam from their hospital beds after they were involved in an accident.

He said all the necessary measures have been taken in protecting the integrity of this year's exams despite the prolonged break occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.