By Michael Oduor
The government has strengthened security in the North Rift region ahead of the national examinations to secure a conducive environment for candidates expected to sit for national examinations end of the month.
According to Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Maalim Mohammed, security has been beefed in Baringo, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana and Laikipia counties where cases of bandit attacks were reported to ensure peace as candidates begin their exams.
The Commissioner said that although the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) regulations had merged examination centers with less than 30 candidates registered for both the KCPE and KCSE examinations, the rule will not be applicable in the region due to security reasons.
He cautioned politicians not to disrupt the schedule of the national examinations with their campaigns to give the candidates humble time to write the papers.
“As the electioneering temperature gains momentum across the country, we appeal to aspirants eyeing various elective seats to desist from holding rallies or mounting public address systems in or near our schools in order to give candidates ample time,” He said.
Maalim warned that those found flouting the directive will be dealt with accordingly.
Speaking after holding a meeting with Rift Valley Regional Intelligence Committee members, education officials and County Commissioners from the 14 devolved units in the region to review examination preparations, Maalim regretted that several schools including St Mary’s Cheptulele Girls, Cheptulel Primary School, Cheptulel Boys, Cheratak Primary Seramach Primary School in West Pokot County were closed due to security reasons.
“We will ensure all candidates in the five affected schools write their examinations. Some of the schools have been reopened, while candidates in learning institutions that are yet to reopen have been relocated to other centers. We will also do tracing of any missing candidates to ensure that all eligible learners do their national examination,” Said Maalim.
The Regional Commissioner stated that the 14 county and Sub-county security teams had put in place adequate measures to ensure the examination papers were properly guarded during the examination period.
“We have deployed enough security personnel that will man all Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam containers and centres in the county,” the Commissioner added
Maalim also indicated that all the examination centres in the region would be provided with adequate security personnel throughout the examination period.
“We will not take any chances in this critical time for our children. We wish to assure the parents, teachers and students in the affected areas that their safety is guaranteed,” he said.
Further, Maalim stressed on the need for the education officers, particularly the principals who will act as examination centre managers to ensure the forthcoming examinations were managed in strict adherence to regulations by the examination body.
“We urge principals, head teachers, invigilators and supervisors in charge to ensure the KCSE and KCPE exams are free of any malpractices,” he added.
About 340,304 candidates will sit Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in the region out of which 171,651 are boys and 168,669 girls.
In Baringo County, Kapturo and Chepkesin Primary School candidates will sit their examinations at Tabaroi Primary school while in Elgeyo Marakwet, candidates from Changach Barrack Secondary School have been relocated to Kiptolos Secondary School, a distance of about 14 kilometers.
In Laikipia County, the administrator noted that Tumaini and Merigwiti Primary Schools which had been destroyed in banditry attacks last year had reopened with additional new classrooms following a restoration and charity exercise by Kenya Defense Forces.
Other examination centers that have been moved include Kapkechir Primary School to Karne Primary School, Kasiela Primary school to Sinoni Primary School, Arabal Primary School and Kapindasum to Chemongorin Primary School while Tuyotich Primary school and Tuyotich Secondary School candidates will sit their examination at Kabel Primary School.
“All the relocated candidates will be provided with boarding facilities and meals that will be catered for by the government. County Commissioners in affected regions will liaise with school heads to ensure relocated candidates write their exams in a conducive set up,” Maalim stated
He stated that a total of 208,935 candidates from public schools and an additional 16,017 from private institutions in the region will sit for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) which will commence on March 14.
“Our concern is heavy rains that have increased and with the bad roads in rural areas, we expect some challenges. We have mapped out all areas and we are working closely with sub-county education officers who are on the ground to ensure the success of the examination,” remarked the Commissioner as he stated that motorbikes assigned to local administrators and choppers would be on standby to deliver papers and personnel to areas inaccessible by vehicles.
