Candidate dies, four suspects arrested on first day of KCSE

A candidate died minutes before the start of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.

Mr Boniface Shivuto, 20, a student at Mavusi Secondary School in Kakamega North, was preparing to write the exam at Malava Sub-county Hospital where he was undergoing treatment.

Malava Sub-county Police Commander Paul Mwenda said he was aware of the student’s death, but referred journalists to sub-county education office for more information.

Ms Ann Shivuto said her son started shivering uncontrollably and breathed his last as a room was being prepared for him to sit the exam.

Mr John Nyikuli, the candidate’s father, told journalists that Mr Shivuto had been battling blood cancer.

Elsewhere, police arrested four suspects linked to exam irregularity.

West Pokot County Commissioner Apollo Okello said at around 12.30pm, following an intelligence report, police officers came across a case of impersonation at Werpo Ortum Mixed Secondary School.

Apollo said a Form 3 student at St Anthony’s in Kitale was found sitting the exam on behalf of his brother.

“We have since arrested the suspects and handed them to police at Chepareria Police Station,” he said.