Police rescue candidate after mother locks her up over ‘666’ exam number
Police arrest a woman in Jomvu, Mombasa, on Tuesday, October 27, for allegedly locking her daughter in their house to prevent her from sitting the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment.
A pupil sitting her Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) has been rescued after her mother was arrested in Mombasa for allegedly locking her in the house to stop her from sitting the second day of the exams because her index number contained the digits 666, which her mother believes are satanic.
The 38-year-old was arrested after police and children’s officers rescued the pupil from their home in Jomvu and escorted her to Kwa Jomvu Primary School, where she sat her delayed papers.
The mother, whose identity is withheld to protect her children, said her actions were guided by religious beliefs.
“I am a God-fearing woman, a servant of God, and a preacher,” she told Nation after her arrest, claiming God had revealed the assessment number to her. “I don’t know why I have been arrested, this is wrong,” she added.
The candidate, who attends a local private school, failed to report to the examination centre on Tuesday morning. Headteacher and centre manager Bakari Mwerephe contacted the family and learnt that the mother had refused to let her daughter leave the house after noticing the number the previous evening.
The girl’s aunt alerted authorities, prompting police and children’s officers to intervene at about 9.30am. The pupil, already dressed in uniform, was rescued and taken to the examination centre.
Jomvu Sub-County Police Commander Selina Chirchir said she ordered officers and children’s officials to act immediately. The centre manager accommodated the girl, enabling her to sit the test, she said.
The mother had allowed the girl to sit Monday’s assessment but later told the headteacher she would not take further tests because of the index number.
Officials said the woman had previously come to the attention of child protection authorities. A month earlier, she was summoned by the Jomvu Children’s Office after reports that she regularly refused to take her children to school or seek medical attention when they fell ill, citing religion.
Relatives said her religious convictions had deepened after separating from her husband.
“I have been fighting with her over this indoctrination, which is violating her children’s right to education,” said her cousin, Juliet Ndewa. “When she locked the girl in the house today over satanic numbers, I knew I had to involve the police,” she added.
The girl’s father, a long-distance truck driver who lives separately from the family, has paid school fees and supported the children since she entered Grade One.
Mr Mwerephe said he had always dealt with the father, whom he described as a good provider. He said the girl was bright but had missed months of school because of challenges at home.
Ms Chirchir condemned the incident, saying no parent should deny a child an education because of personal beliefs. The mother was expected to remain in custody pending psychiatric evaluation and further interrogation before possible charges of child neglect and interference with a minor’s right to education.
Elsewhere, three girls sat their Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) in hospitals after giving birth. Two delivered in Bomet, while a candidate from Migori sat at AGC Tenwek Hospital.
In Nakuru, 27 candidates missing from the nominal roll were allowed to sit assessments after intervention by examination officials. They comprised 11 KPSEA and 16 KJSEA candidates.
Security was reinforced in banditry-prone areas of Samburu, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Turkana and Baringo counties to protect candidates. Rift Valley Regional Commissioner Abdi Hassan said security teams had put measures in place to ensure a safe examination period.
In Homa Bay, a 15-year-old recovering from a Caesarean section sat KPSEA from her hospital bed. Hospital chief executive Vincent Oduor said she and her newborn were stable.
In Kisii, a candidate missed KJSEA after discovering she had not been registered. Her father, Dickson Asiago, called on the Ministry of Education to act.
KPSEA was scheduled to conclude on Thursday, while KJSEA was to continue until Friday.
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