Members of Kabonokia religious sect praying during a Sunday service at the home of their leader in Irunduni village in Tharaka-Nithi County. At least 11 KCPE candidates in Tharaka North Sub-County have refused to sit KCPE exams due to their faith. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
At least 280 learners dropped from school between January and August this year according to Tharaka-North Sub-County Director of Education.
KNUT Tharaka-Nithi County chapter chairman Ndia Gwaitia said efforts by the education and administration officials to look for the candidates had turned futile.
Gwaitia said some of the candidates fled from their homes after their parents were arrested and jailed for declining to be enumerated during census.
A crackdown launched on members of the Kabonokia religious sect who had withdrawn their children from school, saw 40 returned.
At least 11 candidates in Tharaka North Sub-County who dropped out of school earlier in the year after their parents joined the Kabonokia religious sect did not turn up for the for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination.
At Kamacabi Primary School, five candidates could not be found at their homes.
