KCSE candidate drops dead, another collapses after slap

A Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam candidate collapsed and died while receiving treatment at a hospital in Murang'a.

According to Kandara Deputy County Commissioner Mr Peter Maina, the girl from Gakui Secondary School collapsed on Tuesday afternoon and died an hour later.

"The girl was rushed to a nearby health centre while unconscious but with a pulse...She was admitted and efforts to save her life commenced. Unfortunately, she did not make it," Mr Maina said.

He added that the incident stirred the examination centre, but managers brought the situation under control.

Murang'a County Education Director, Ms Anne Kiilu, said the incident is being investigated.

"This is purely a health issue where a pupil has succumbed to a condition that is yet to be ascertained," she said.

Mr Maina said the body has since been moved to General Kago Mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

The family of the deceased through spokesman Martin Kamau said; "our girl was in high spirits and looked forward to posting good results in the examination."

He said the news of her sudden death has hit the family hard.

"We accept the will of God...it cannot be undone. Questions abide...we find it hard to believe she is no more, yet that is the reality. Pray for us," he said.

Mr Kamau said police have assured the family of the speedy release of a report explaining how her death occurred.

"We have been told to wait for the postmortem report that will offer clues on what went wrong to a point her system experienced a shutdown...patience and prayers are all we have now," he said.

Senate Education committee chair Mr Joe Nyutu sent his condolences, saying the matter was devastating, especially for the parents and fellow pupils.

He said he would liaise with education leaders in the county to ensure the pupils are counselled so as to come to terms with the grave happening.

"You can imagine how the students will be affected...in fact, it should be recorded that the examination centre henceforth gets categorised as a special case where leniency in marking and grading should apply," he said.

Mr Nyutu equated the school to a trauma centre where the environment is that of duress.

Candidate slapped because of 'chewing'

In another incident, a candidate at Sironga Girls in Nyamira County was on Tuesday rushed to hospital after allegedly being slapped by an officer from the Education ministry.

The quality assurance officer is said to have visited the national school on Tuesday morning to assess the progress of the ongoing tests.

On entering one exam room, she noticed a candidate chewing something which she suspected to be unauthorised material.

According to a police report, the officer then moved to where the candidate was and descended on her with several slaps before leaving the school.

Following the slapping, the candidate remained restless as she was doing her morning paper before collapsing in the exam room.

She was rushed to the school dispensary, where her condition was steadied.

“Investigations into the incident have commenced and more details will follow,” read part of a police report.

County Criminal Investigations Officer (CCIO), Mwaniki Kiboro, said the student had filled a P3 form and once they finalise on their investigations, they would arrest the officer.

“It is wrong to assault someone. The student has already filled a P3 form. We will rely on those who witnessed the incident and if there is sufficient evidence, then we will arrest the said officer and arraign her,” Mr Kiboro said.

County Director of Educatio Joshua Kaga also confirmed the incident.

“I have visited the school and we are getting to the bottom of the matter,” Mr Kago told Nation on phone

Barely two months ago, the only girls national school in Nyamira was thrown into mourning after a form four candidate died by suicide.

The student jumped from the third floor of the administration block in the wee hours of a weekend as the rest of her colleagues were preparing for the day. The deceased did not leave any note behind detailing why she chose to take her own life.

Six phones

And in Kwale, police have launched an investigation at Waa Boys High School after students were caught with mobile phones during exams.

According to Kwale County Director of Education, Ahmed Mohammed Abdi, police found three students with six phones during the Monday incident.

“The investigations are still ongoing and the case has been taken over by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations who will later give a comprehensive outcome of the investigations once completed,” said Mr Abdi.

He however said that the students were innocent in this case, blaming the teachers, as there is a possibility of them being allowed into the exam room with the devices intentionally.

“If proper frisking was done and clear instructions were given about not bringing phones, the entire situation could have been avoided,” said Mr Abdi.

According to Mr Abdi, some students are taking advantage of opposite gender invigilators by hiding the mobile phones in their private parts, knowing that they cannot be thoroughly frisked.

Following the incident, he said a shuffle has been done and all female invigilators would be taken to girls’ schools while male invigilators will be posted in boys’ schools to enhance the frisking.

He explained that the incident had not compromised the credibility of the examinations and students will continue sitting for the exam under stringent measures.

Mr Abdi said authorities will continue safeguarding the integrity of national exams.

Waa Boys is one of the oldest schools in the Coast region having existed for more than 100 years.

Reports by Mwangi Muiruri, Siago Cece and Wycliffe Nyaberi.