KAKAMEGA,Kenya,Mar,7 -The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations kicked off in earnest Monday morning nationwide with over a million candidates sitting for their Mathematics,English language and Composition papers on day one as scheduled by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha presided over the distribution of exam papers in Kakamega county and warned politicians against making statements that may cause panic among the candidates.
Despite concerns that some candidates might not sit for their exams as a result of conflict in certain areas, the education minister said that the government has already beefed up security and that every candidate sat for their exams.
“We have availed helicopters and enough physical security and we have converged the said candidates (those affected by conflict) in a few school including high schools and as we speak they are doing exams. I am not worried that there are any children who are not going to have exams because of insecurity issues,” said Magoha.
Conflict in areas of Baringo where several people were recently killed saw parents and candidates alike express fear over their future.
“Even those bandits are human beings and they have blood, and if they are bold enough let them come out. But our children who have been brought into the secure area are going to be fed and they are going to sleep in those schools,” he said.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i meanwhile said that security apparatus are on high alert across the country in order to ensure the examination process is a success.
“I have been talking to colleagues from Rift Valley, North Eastern, Coast, early this morning. All is well across the country. We are all now focused that we will do this for our children. We shall spend time to ensure that we serve our children,” said Dr. Fred Matiang’i.
Matiang’i further reiterated the government’s commitment in safeguarding the integrity of this year’s national exams through the deployment of an ‘all government agency approach’ coordinated by the Education Ministry field officers, the Kenya police service among others.
In the Rift Valley, senior administration and education officials have assured pupils in trouble hit areas of Baringo and Kerio Valley that they will not allow the guns to keep on causing trouble for many who will be sitting the exams in the next few days.
In Kirinyaga county , a total of 26,776 candidates are sitting the exams. County commissioner Jim Njoka says that there is adequate security to protect examination centers, containers and general environment.
He has further cautioned center managers to take care of exams, as they are the one responsible with the examinations.
In West Pokot ,County commissioner Apollo Okello said that security has been beefed up in the whole county.
He cited that security officers have been deployed in hot spot areas along the West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet borders.
” I want to give an assurance we have adequate security personnel and extra security officers who are undertaking patrol in troubled areas. Those who will be manning all the centres and we have extra security centres where we will undertake patrols. Especially along our border with Elgeyo Marakwet, and Turkana. We don’t expect any problem or any challenge during this exercise. the centre managers and security officers have been adequately briefed,” he said.
In Uasin Gichu county, senior education Ministry officials have called on politicians to avoid areas bordering exam centers as they traverse the country to campaign for their preferred political candidates in the August 9th general election.
” We are not allowing any to mess with our children. Where politicians are putting their pictures and doing direct campaigning in schools. That is not right,’ said Dr. Sara Ruto,CAS Education ministry.
In Mombasa county, as center managers gathered early to receive examination papers , the regional commissioner has assured the residents that security zone areas in Lamu have received enough security personnel to secure the candidates and the examinations.
“We will get to know today, because unless the exam starts we may not know where the challenge is. But we hope that all candidates who registered for the exam will sit for it. But of course you may not miss one or two issues that will come out of the end of the exam day,” Said John Elungata,Coast Regional Coordinator.
In Kwale county, two students are undertaking their exams from their hospital beds after delivering babies in the early hours of Monday.
Msambweni education director Abraham Nyamawi said that one of the candidates will be sitting her exams at Msambweni referral hospital while the other is at Kinondo Kwetu private hospital.
In Embu County the distribution of 2021 KCPE materials kicked off smoothly to the 296 centers with Center managers warned to follow the laid guidelines.
Embu County Commissioner Edward Nyale observed that Embu county was not adversely affected by drought and pupils will not have a challenge of going without food adding the government had distributed food stuffs in the two semi arid sub counties of Mbeere South and North.
KCPE 2021 kicked off Monday March,7, 2022 and will end on Wednesday March,9,2022.
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