This archive report was first published on 12 November 2019.
On November 8, 2019, a tragic incident occurred at St Peter's Mixed Secondary School in Kajulu, Kisumu county, during the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. Apollo Otieno, a 20-year-old student, was severely burnt when a chemical exploded on his face in the laboratory.
According to Otieno, he had started the examination well and had completed three questions before the chemical explosion occurred. He was left struggling throughout the examination and was later taken to Kombewa sub-county hospital for treatment.
The Ministry of Education downplayed reports of injuries and negative effects caused by the chemical, with Cabinet Secretary George Magoha stating that more dangerous chemicals had been used before.
However, several students and teachers were affected by the highly flammable chemical, xylene, which was used in the examination. An expectant teacher, Ms Cherusha Nyakeri, was rushed to Galilee Hospital after developing complications following exposure to the chemical.
Some schools provided milk to candidates to neutralize the effects of the chemical, while others were forced to take students to hospital due to severe reactions. An asthmatic candidate in Embu County suffered attacks after inhaling the fumes produced by the chemical.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of students and teachers during the KCSE examination. The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) had directed schools to purchase xylene as an alternative to the safer cyclohexane, citing a shortage of the latter.
Knec's acting Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Karogo, had sent a circular on November 1, 2019, advising principals to replace cyclohexane with xylene due to a shortage. However, another supplier, School Equipment Centre Ltd, had warned against using xylene in plastic bottles, citing its potential to react with the chemical.
The incident has sparked debate about the safety of students and teachers during the KCSE examination. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has warned that exposure to xylene can cause eye, nose, skin, and throat irritation, as well as headaches, dizziness, and confusion.
