A Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidate held at the Nanyuki prison has declined to write his examinations citing lack of preparedness.
Laikipia County Director of Education Ms. Susan Murerwa said that the candidate is the only one in the correctional facilities who was to sit for the examination. He is in custody after being charged with defilement.
Speaking on Tuesday after overseeing the opening of the examinations container and distribution of materials in Nanyuki town, Ms. Murerwa also said there were several candidates sitting their exams in various hospitals in the county due to ailments.
“There are several candidates from neighbouring counties sitting at the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital (NTRH) and we also have some who have failed to turn up at their examination centres,” Ms. Murerwa said though she did not give specific figures.
“We also have one candidate who is writing the exam while in prison,” she added.
Education Chief Administrative Secretary Hassan Noor Hassan led education officers and those from the Ministry of the Interior in opening a container with examination materials said that the government was keen on ensuring that high standards need to be maintained during the entire period.
“You have noticed that in the recent past, we have become very thorough in making sure that the exams are conducted in a fair manner so that each candidate gets what he or she merits,” the CAS said.
Hassan said his Ministry was satisfied with the manner the whole exercise was being executed, saying over 8,000 candidates were sitting for the final year examination in Laikipia County.
“Over the years the Ministry notes that we have lost momentum and set the right standards and integrity for the examinations,” said the CAS.
Hassan also clarified that there was no female candidate sitting for their examinations while pregnant in the region.
By Martin Munyi
