This archive report was first published on 22 November 2019.
On November 22, 2019, a KCSE candidate died in Nakuru, sparking concerns over the safety of the Chemistry practical exam.
A postmortem report later revealed that the student, Victor Kiptoo, had been suffering from tuberculosis.
Days before his death, Kiptoo had sat for the Chemistry practical exam, where students and teachers complained of being affected by a chemical compound known as xylene.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) reported that several teachers and students across the country had been admitted to hospital due to their contact with xylene.
However, Education CS George Magoha downplayed the claims, stating that xylene is not as dangerous as claimed and has been used for many years in KCSE exams.
According to Rongai Deputy County Commissioner Julius Kavita, Kiptoo could have been treated if the disease had been detected earlier.
