This archive report was first published on 29 October 2019.
The ongoing KCPE exams have brought the Kenyan government to a standstill as the executive takes all necessary measures to prevent cheating.
On Tuesday, the entire Cabinet abandoned its policy formulation role to oversee the dispatch of exam papers across the country.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha was in Mombasa, while his counterparts Najib Balala (Tourism), James Macharia (Transport), Margaret Kobia (Public Service), and Fred Matiang'i (Interior) were in Nairobi, Murang'a, Meru, and Nakuru respectively.
Principal secretaries and chief administrative officers also abandoned their offices to open exam containers that act as stores.
Transport CS James Macharia told journalists that the exams saw them cancel a planned Cabinet meeting.
"This is a serious exercise and to show the government's commitment, we cancelled the Cabinet meetings to monitor the exams around the country," he said in Kigumo.
"We are moulding the future leaders and that is why we are taking the whole process with the seriousness it deserves," he added.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring credible tests by sealing all loopholes for cheating.
She said the government was keen on ensuring Kenya's exams are globally competitive and guarantee local scholars admission to world-class universities across the globe.
A total of 1,088,986 candidates are writing the tests that mark their transition to secondary schools in 27,809 centers across the country.
Overall, the tests started smoothly, with candidates writing mathematics paper from 8:30 am.
However, transport hitches delayed the exams in several counties in Coast, North Eastern Kenya, and parts of Rift Valley.
