37 Naivasha inmates sit for exams as KCPE starts

Students frisked before sitting for KCPE exams at Moi Primary School in Nakuru. [Photo: Boniface Thuku/Standard]

By Standard Team

A 21-year- old inmate serving death sentence at the Naivasha G.K prison was among thousands of candidates who sat their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations on Tuesday.

Joel Abuka who has been convicted for murder joined 37 other inmates in seating for the mathematics paper behind bars.

Despite facing tens of challenges, the inmates exuded confidence saying that they were well prepared for the exams.

Abuka who hails from Kakamega said that his teachers who are incidentally fellow inmates had prepared him for the exams.

In Mombasa, no incident was reported by mid-morning as class eight candidates began the exams but security was tight following reports that members of the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) were planning to disrupt the examinations.

In Kwale County, no incident was reported with Msambweni Deputy OCPD Gifinalis Barasa saying security has been beefed up in all schools.

A spot check across Nairobi reveals that the examinations started in time in all the centers. No hitches have been reported so far.

Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) confirmed that the 38 displaced candidates in Tana River are writing the examinations at Furaha Primary School.

Council director of examinations Eda Muiruri also said the 12 un-registered candidates at Mt Elgon district are sitting the examinations as private candidates in Kapsokwony.

“We have made sure that all candidates registered and non-registered are sitting the examinations,” she said.

By 11am Tuesday, no incident had been reported in Nyeri and Nakuru regions with candidates sitting for the examinations as scheduled.

Over 800,000 candidates are expected to sit for KCPE this year.

The three-day examinations will be administered in 22,783 centres.

Knec chief executive officer Paul Wasanga said over 60,000 security personnel have been deployed in examination centres across the country.

About 22,482 supervisors and 50,242 invigilators have been contracted by Knec to administer the examinations. This year’s national examinations are being conducted under a stringent law, which hopes to deter malpractices.

The Knec 2012 Act spells stiff penalties for persons caught with examination material/s before time or those caught conspiring to engage in malpractice.

Marking of KCPE is expected to start on December 17 and end on December 24. Unlike in the past, this year’s results will be released on January 31.