This archive report was first published on 13 November 2019.
On November 8, 2019, Apollo Otieno, a 20-year-old KCSE candidate, was severely burnt in a laboratory accident at St Peter's Mixed Secondary School in Kajulu, Kisumu county, Kenya.
During the chemistry practical examination, a highly flammable chemical called xylene exploded on Otieno's face, leaving him with serious burns.
"I started the examinations well. In fact, I did three questions before the chemical exploded on my face. I had to struggle throughout the examination," Otieno said from his bed at Kombewa sub-county hospital, where he was being treated.
According to reports, Otieno is one of several students and teachers who were affected by the chemical, which was used in the examination.
The Ministry of Education downplayed the incident, with Cabinet Secretary George Magoha stating that more dangerous chemicals had been used before.
However, several students and teachers reported experiencing symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and stomach discomfort after inhaling the fumes produced by the chemical.
Some schools even gave the candidates milk to neutralize the effects of the chemical, while others were rushed to hospital after complaining of chest pains and other symptoms.
It was later revealed that 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, which was available at Kobian Kenya Ltd and other chemical distributors.
However, another supplier, School Equipment Centre Ltd, had written to Karogo three days later, expressing concerns about the safety of storing xylene in plastic bottles, which could react with the chemical.
