Number of special needs candidates up

Twenty-one more candidates with special needs sat for the KCPE examinations this year compared to 2014.

In total 2,118 special needs' students wrote the examinations this year. The group included candidates with physical, visual and hearing impairments.

Across the 47 counties, 105 of these candidates were blind, an increase from last year's 96. Another 552 had low vision, representing a drop from last year's 640 candidates. In addition, some 726 candidates were physically and/or mentally challenged, marking a drop from 695 last year while 735 candidates had impaired hearing, a rise from 666 in 2014.

Addressing the nation yesterday, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said he was happy as more special needs children were able to access and successfully go through primary education.

"There continues to be a steady increase in the number of learners with special needs attaining a full cycle of primary education and sitting for the KCPE examinations," Matiang'i said.

Some 655 prisoners across the country also did the examinations. Fifty-eight candidates wrote the examinations from hospital beds.

Kiambu County had the most blind candidates with 23, an increase from 17 in 2014. Mombasa County followed with 13 candidates, an increase from seven last year.

Uasin Gishu County recorded the highest number of physically and or mentally challenged candidates at 67, an increase from seven in last year's examinations. Bungoma was second in this category with 54 candidates, down from the 107 in 2014.

The highest number of candidates with hearing impairment was recorded in Kakamega County, which had 60 candidates, an increase from 51 last year. Kilifi had 50 candidates with hearing-impaired candidates, up from 30 last year.