Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba has spoken on the fate of hundreds of Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates stranded in parts of Elgeyo Marakwet following mudslides that have claimed at least 21 lives.
In a statement on Sunday, November, CS Ogamba said the government will evacuate the affected candidates to ensure they sit their national exams as scheduled.
“It is unfortunate about the disaster that happened last night, mudslides that have taken lives and injured others. But the government, under the disaster management system and using all the multi-agencies, has moved there,” Ogamba said.
“We assure all national examination and assessment candidates in the region that we have put in place adequate contingency plans to ensure that they proceed with their remaining papers.”
Also Read: CS Ogamba Announces When KNEC Will Release KCSE, KPSEA, and KJSEA Results
He added that the government is identifying the affected schools to ensure no candidate misses the examinations.
“We have our teams on the ground to find out which schools have been affected. If there are, we will make arrangements to ensure students from that area do not miss exams on Monday,” he added.
KJSEA and KCSE Candidates in Elgeyo Marakwet to be Airlifted for National Exams
CS added that the government is making alternative arrangements and is prioritizing the safety, well-being, and uninterrupted participation of students in disaster-prone regions.
“The team will give us a report later in the day to find out whether there are schools affected, how many students are affected, then we will put in place mechanisms to ensure that next week they are able to undertake the examinations and assessments,” he said.
He said the arrangements include moving candidates from affected schools to safer locations.
“Airlifting them and ensuring that we have enough alternative transport logistics,” Ogamba stated.
Also Read: Govt Launches Rescue Operations After Deadly Landslides in Elgeyo Marakwet
Deadly Mudslide
At least 21 people were confirmed dead, with 25 injured and several others missing as deadly mudslides struck the county.
The tragedy affected Murkutwa, Chesongoch, Kabetwa, Embobut areas of Marakwet East, displacing nearly 500 families.
The night-long deluges caused rivers to burst, triggering runoffs down the Elegeyo Marakwet escarpments.
The nationwide 2025 KCSE examinations began on Tuesday, October 21, with candidates starting with oral papers for French, German, Arabic, and Kenyan Sign Language. Practical exams commenced on Wednesday, October 29, and will run through to Friday, October 31.
KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere stated that 996,078 students are participating in the KCSE exams. More than 2.4 million KPSEA and KJSEA learners across the country began their national assessments on Monday, October 27.
Of these, 1,130,669 learners are in Grade 9 taking the KJSEA, while 1,298,089 Grade 6 pupils are sitting for the KPSEA. In total, KNEC is administering national examinations and assessments to 3,424,836 candidates across the country.
KJSEA exams are expected to conclude on Monday, November 2, while KCSE exams will run through to November 27.
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