This archive report was first published on 29 October 2019.
Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams kicked off on a smooth note on Tuesday, October 29, 2019, despite concerns that the ongoing rains could disrupt the exercise.
Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang toured several examination centres ahead of the exams, assuring the public that all was set for the exams.
Dr Kipsang said regional directors reported smooth progress, with centre managers, supervisors, sub-county directors, and security officers ensuring there were no challenges.
According to a Nation survey, all was set for the exams, with over one million candidates sitting this year's examinations.
Among the candidates were eight inmates from Homa Bay GK Prison, who were among the 31,176 KCPE candidates in the county.
Measures had been put in place to ensure that expectant candidates who went into labour during the exams were taken to hospital, following last year's incidents where several candidates delivered during the examination period.
However, some candidates faced challenges, including a boy who sustained severe burns on his hands after being assaulted by his stepmother in Ahero.
The boy, who was attacked for allegedly stealing a mobile phone, was allowed to sit his exams in a hospital ward.
Meanwhile, 10 candidates at Emmaus Academy in Obunga, Kisumu, were sent home to collect Sh1,000 for their lunch during the examination period, leaving parents disappointed with the school administration.
Despite the challenges, the Ministry of Education had put in place adequate security measures, with police officers deployed to ensure safety for 88,122 candidates in the Coast region.
Coast Regional Coordinator John Elungata confirmed that adequate security measures had been taken.
Additionally, helicopters had been deployed to help in distributing examination materials in areas affected by floods, including Wajir, Mandera, and Marsabit counties.
Education Directors in various counties had also confirmed that measures were in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the exams, despite the challenges posed by the rains.
Among the counties that had taken measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the exams were Siaya, Vihiga, and Elgeyo-Marakwet.
County Commissioners and Education Directors had also confirmed that security measures had been taken to ensure that pupils in banditry-prone areas sat the exams without interruption.
By Faith Nyamai, George Odiwuor, Elizabeth Ojina, Benson Ayienda, Derick Luvega, Dickens Wasonga, Shaban Makokha, Lucy Mkanyika, Siago Cece, Fadhili Fredrick, Winnie Atieno, Manase Otsialo, Jacob Walter, Flora Koech, Evans Kipkura, Sammy Lutta, and Regina Kinogu
