Teachers, parents recall last moments of Homa Bay KCSE candidate who died after sitting first papers

Teachers and parents of Conjestina Achieng', the 17-year-old KCSE candidate from Homa Bay County who died on Monday evening, have recounted her last hours, saying she had been unwell for days but was determined to sit her examinations.

Grief has engulfed Kanyaliech village in Koyugi sub-location, Karachuonyo Constituency. Conjestina, a Form Four candidate at Alaru Central Mixed Secondary School in Rachuonyo West Sub-County, died just hours after sitting her first two papers of the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, English Paper One in the morning and Chemistry Paper One in the afternoon.

Her class teacher, George Ogweno, said Conjestina became tired as she approached the end of her second paper. The deputy centre manager called her parents to come and take her to hospital. Her condition deteriorated rapidly on the way, and she was pronounced dead on arrival at Tamary Hospital. The news reached the school at around 8pm, leaving teachers and fellow candidates in shock.

Her mother, Pamela Atieno, said Conjestina had been unwell since the previous week and had complained of chest pains. She said she bought her daughter over-the-counter medicine to relieve the pain so that she could sit the national test, adding that Conjestina hoped to recover in time and was determined not to miss the examinations.

Her father, David Ogweno, said he received an urgent call from the school principal asking him to attend to his daughter after she had completed her papers. They rushed her to hospital, but it was too late.

Teachers described Conjestina as a disciplined student who attended Alaru Central Mixed Secondary School from Form One to Form Four and maintained good conduct throughout. She hoped to become a lawyer after secondary school.

Her death was among three KCSE candidate deaths confirmed by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Wednesday, November 4. The others were Cornelius Kiplagat Rotich of Katebee Secondary School in Turbo, Uasin Gishu County, who died after sitting his Mathematics paper on Tuesday, and Vivianne Adhiambo Owiti of Dhene Secondary School in Gem Wagai, Siaya County, who was reportedly murdered at her family home.

The medical cause of Conjestina's death has not been established, and investigations are ongoing.