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HomeNewsNational Exam Candidates Stranded As Raging Floods Make Marsabit Roads Impassable

National Exam Candidates Stranded As Raging Floods Make Marsabit Roads Impassable

National Exam Candidates Stranded As Raging Floods Make Marsabit Roads Impassable

The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) have faced delays in 11 centers in Marsabit County due to weather-related challenges.

Marsabit County Commissioner Nobert Komora explained that heavy rains have made roads impassable and created unfavorable weather conditions.

Unfavorable weather conditions hass prevented candidates from reporting for exams centers including Ngurunit, Mpagas, Lepandera, Ndikir, Lontolio, St. Domenic Savio Lengima, Ortolot, and Farakoren in Laisamis sub-county, as well as Jjija and Arge in Loiyangalani and Shurr primary school in Turbi-Bubisa sub-county.

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The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) reportedly lacked due diligence in Arge and Jjija examination centers in Loiyangalani Sub-county, causing an inconvenience for candidates as it resulted in a mix-up of examination papers.

Additionally, a helicopter dispatched to transport examination materials was unable to reach the area due to adverse weather conditions.

Komora, who had earlier witnessed the opening of the exam container for Marsabit Central sub-county, mentioned that the inclement weather caused a delay in the start of the exams, with the exercise commencing at 9 a.m. in many examination centers instead of the official time of 8:30 a.m.

In order to overcome these difficulties, the county government provided a tractor to help transport exam supplies and officials to Kituruni, Badassa, and Leyai areas in Saku Constituency, where the ongoing rains had damaged the road network and washed away a bridge.

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In Marsabit County, KNEC registered 9,080 candidates for KCPE and 7,975 for KPSEA, with a total of 176 and 216 examination centers, respectively. Notably, 18 candidates who had not registered for KPSEA arrived at Illeret primary and junior secondary schools in North Horr constituency, having migrated with their parents to Ethiopia to escape drought and missing the mandatory registration process.

However, they were allowed to take the exams following a directive from the Ministry of Education.

The exercise also saw 41 private KCPE candidates, including 27 females and 14 males, and three candidates with legal conflicts taking their examinations at the Moyale GK prison. The government ensured measures to create a conducive exam environment, and Komora emphasized the need for integrity in administering the exams, warning of strict action against those attempting to bypass procedures.

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They deployed helicopters to access and distribute exams in rain-affected areas, and they were developing strategies to navigate challenging weather conditions.

Despite the adverse conditions, examination officials, security personnel, and candidates persevered in fulfilling their responsibilities.

Residents from Kargi, Laisamis constituency in Marsabit, recently staged protests due to the deteriorated road conditions caused by heavy rains in the region. They’ve been stranded for over a week on the impassable Marsabit-Kargi road. Area MCA Chris Ogom urged the government to urgently address the situation, emphasizing the need for both food and non-food aid.

He particularly emphasized the Hallam River stretch, which urgently requires a bridge to allow the smooth movement of vehicles between Marsabit and Kargi towns. Locals are facing food shortages, difficulties in transferring sick patients, and complications in transferring expectant mothers to other hospitals. School-going students in Marsabit town are also stranded.

Heavy rains have led to two fatalities and displaced numerous families in the county.

ALSO READ: KCPE, KPSEA Exams: 5 Candidates Deliver Babies, Another Overcomes Leg Fracture

National Exam Candidates Stranded As Raging Floods Make Marsabit Roads Impassable

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