KCSE Candidate Dies as Two Deliveries Signal Start of Exams

The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) theory examinations began on Monday morning, marked by three significant incidents in Meru County affecting the candidates preparing for their final exams.

At around midnight on November 4, a male candidate from a Tigania West school passed away just hours before the exam, while two expectant female candidates gave birth at Meru Hospital.

A regional administrator confirmed, “At around 12:00 AM this morning, we lost one male candidate from Tigania West. Simultaneously, two girls who were expecting delivered at the Meru Hospital. This news may evolve as we receive updates.”

During a media briefing while distributing the exams in Meru County, the administrator highlighted that despite the unfortunate death and the births, there was a notable presence of adult candidates and prisoner candidates participating in the examinations.

The region saw a total of 151 senior adult candidates taking the exams at five centers, alongside 12 male prisoners.

Echoing the Ministry of Education’s appeal, the administrator urged all personnel overseeing the examination process to adhere strictly to regulations designed to prevent irregularities and malpractice.

“All officials involved—centre managers, supervisors, invigilators, police officers, and others—have received directives about their roles. Anyone involved in any form of exam malpractice will face legal consequences,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of allowing candidates to benefit from their years of preparation.

Meanwhile, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba instructed supervisors to refrain from facilitating malpractice, asserting that the government would actively monitor the situation and take action against offenders.

He noted that this year’s examination papers were equipped with technology to detect any tampering, which would promptly report to the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) headquarters in Nairobi.

Additionally, school officials have been prohibited from bringing phones into the examination centers. The Ministry announced that it would use social media to identify and address any suspicious activities related to the ongoing exams.

Those caught engaging in malpractice will be prosecuted in newly established courts designed to ensure timely handling of exam-related offenses.