Exams in Kajiado North kick off as scheduled 

National Assessments examinations started smoothly in Kajiado North Sub-county, with authorities putting in place measures to protect candidates and examination materials amid forecasts of above-average rainfall.

Sub-county Director of Education, Jane Murimi, told the Kenya News Agency (KNA) that the first day of the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) has proceeded without reported incidents.

Murimi said examination centre managers had been briefed on examination protocols, while security teams were deployed to oversee the distribution and collection of examination materials.

She said 135 centres were administering KPSEA, while 98 centres were sitting the KJSEA. Sixteen schools had also received home science examination papers.

Preparations have also taken into account forecasts of above-average rainfall, with schools assessed, according to their vulnerability, to weather-related risks.

Murimi said high-risk schools had evacuation plans in case conditions deteriorated, while medium-risk institutions had undertaken drainage clearance and repairs to minimise flooding.

The Director further said no candidates were sitting examinations from the hospital, adding that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) had also made arrangements for candidates requiring assistance because of physical incapacitation, including scribes and readers.

She confirmed that more than 200 adult education learners from Kajiado North are sitting their KCSE examinations at the County Headquarters under a KNEC policy intended to minimise irregularities, involving registered candidates who fail to present themselves for examinations.

The collection of the examination materials today was witnessed by the area Member of Parliament, Onesmus Ngongoyo; Deputy County Commissioner, Yusuf Muhammad; and security teams overseeing the preparations.

The DCC said examination materials were secured in a designated Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) container, guarded round the clock by security officers.

Mohammed explained that the Sub-county Disaster Preparedness Committee had also conducted field visits to identify potential hotspots and implement mitigation measures ahead of the examination period.

Health precautions have been strengthened, following Ebola alerts, with learners and teachers sensitised on hygiene and Ministry of Health guidelines distributed to examination centres.

Kajiado North has 42 KCSE examination centres, 36 of which are within the Sub-county, while the others serve schools from Kajiado West and Isinya.

Oloolaiser High School Principal Peter Kamau said preparations at the institution were satisfactory, with mathematics and science examinations having commenced without difficulties.

The KPSEA examinations will run from October 26 to 28, while the KJSEA assessments continue until October 30. The main KCSE theory examinations are scheduled to begin on November 2 and conclude on November 20.

By Byron Ouma/Joe Gachima