School head arrested over failure to register KCPE candidates

One of the candidates who has not been registered for this year's KCPE exam. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

A primary school head teacher has been arrested in Bondo sub-county after he allegedly failed to register some candidates for the forthcoming Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exam.

Bondo police boss Anthony Wafula said Oduma Academy head teacher Dida Weswa was arrested after three parents reported the matter to the area education office and the police.

On Monday, parents of the affected candidates met the sub-county education officials.

Vincent Omenda's son was set to sit the examination at the school in the outskirts of Usenge town.

He said he paid Sh2,800 for the KCPE exam registration.

“All along the school management yold us everything was fine, but we were shocked last week when we were informed that my son and two others would miss the exams,” he said.

Another parent, Sylvia Dinah, fears that the worst could happen to her daughter Melvine Akinyi.

"She has threatened to do something bad if not allowed to sit for the exam. I don't know what to do," said Akinyi's mother, adding that she had already started buying all that's required for the exam.

The school has 26 candidates but has only registered 18.

The remaining eight were asked to register in other centres.

A teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity said five candidates were registered in neighbouring schools.

Wafula confirmed the arrest of the head teacher, saying he will be charged in court once investigations are completed.