By Osinde Obare and Willis Oketch

The Government has beefed up security in North Rift region ahead of Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examination, which starts on Tuesday.

The Provincial Administration in the region said the move aims at ensuring the final exam went on without security fears.

DCs said preparations for the exams have been finalised, adding education officers would be accorded adequate security while transporting examination material to volatile areas.

Security personnel have been deployed to Kalapata, Kapedo, Loyapat, Lukwamusing and Kainuk schools mostly hit by banditry.

At the Turkana-West Pokot border, there is heavy presence of police to keep bandits and cattle rustlers at bay.

Turkana South DC Joseph Kanyiri said more officers would be deployed to schools with a history of bandit attacks.

Mr Kanyiri said regular and administration police, backed by police reservists would keep watch along the border.

The DC said motorbikes would be used to reach remote areas, which are inaccessible by vehicles.

In Pokot North, DC Joseph Motari said schools along Kenya-Uganda border have been secured and security patrols intensified.

Trans-Nzoia East DEO Mark Luchivya said there was adequate security detail in schools near Kabolet Forest, which habours militia groups.

Mr Luchivya also said measures were in place to detect cheating in exams.

The DEO warned teachers against cheating and warned of severe punishment for those found guilty of exam misconduct.

In Pokot Central the District Education Board Chairman Jeremiah

Were promised necessary support to the education office to ensure exam is a success.

Insecurity in the North Rift is a major threat to education and other development activities.

Armed conflict triggered by need to control scarce resources often disrupt schooling activities as pupils are often forced to flee for their lives.

In Turkana especially, locals have to contend with constant attacks by the Toposa of Southern Sudan.