Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams start amid tight security

The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams started on Tuesday amid tight security and assurances from the Government to protect the credibility of the tests.

State officials who were deployed to various regions to oversee the distribution of exam materials adhered to strict measures ordered by President Uhuru Kenyatta last week.

Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed was at Moi Avenue Primary School, Nairobi, where she assured the candidates of slots in secondary school.

The CS also assured them that delegations of senior Government officials seen in various schools were only there to encourage and inspire the students and not to intimidate them.

Kenya National Examination Council Chairman George Magoha said there had been no cases of exam leakage.

Rift Valley Regional Coordinator Mongo Chimwanga said more than 200 candidates from insecurity-prone areas in Baringo County sat their exams in secure schools.

In Kericho County, a director of a private school who failed to register candidates for the exam will face sanctions.

Formal complaint

County Commissioner Muktar Abdi asked the affected pupils and their parents to file a formal complaint with the police to pave the way for the arrest and prosecution of Beatrice Omwoyo, the director of St Jude Grassland Primary School.

A 15-year-old girl from Nairegia Enkare in Narok East sat her exam at the Narok County Hospital after giving birth to a baby boy. The girl, who delivered the day before, said she was confident of passing the exam and that she wanted to enable her to join the Kenya High School.

In Nandi County, a 16-year-old girl gave birth hours before the start of the exam.

At Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, five candidates sat their exams as they received treatment.

Also sitting the exam from hospital were two candidates in Matungu and Mumias East.

In Migori, ministry officials were investigating an incident in which the names of three candidates were missing from the exam register.

The three pupils of Junior Star Academy were said to have been registered at Oyani Bridge Academy but could not trace their names during the rehearsals.

Candidates at Shauri Moyo Primary School in Kisumu Central had a moment of silence to honour their colleague, Calvin Onyango, who died a week ago.