This archive report was first published on 30 October 2019.
Tharaka Nithi County in Kenya has witnessed a rare incident where 11 KCPE candidates refused to sit for exams due to their Kabonokia faith beliefs.
According to reports, the students are children of Kabonokia believers who claim that education and exams contradict their faith.
Among the affected schools are Kamacabi and Gaciongo primary schools where the exams were left incomplete as the students refused to participate.
Speaking to Daily Nation, Ndia Gwaitia, an official of the Teachers' Union in the area, revealed that some students and their parents went into hiding during the August 2019 census, fearing they would be arrested.
"These students were taken away from their homes out of fear that they might be arrested like their parents," Gwaitia said.
During the census, over 50 Kabonokia believers were arrested and taken to court, where they were charged with failing to comply with the census exercise.
However, 46 of them were later released on bond, while four were detained after admitting to the charges and agreeing to be counted.
The court warned that failure to pay a fine of KSh 200,000 would result in a one-year jail term, six months for failing to participate in the census, and six months for not having identification documents.
