Test papers went missing in one school while two candidates died as the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination entered its second day.

Candidates at Oloonamuka Primary School in Narok County were Wednesday forced to start their exam almost two hours late after the papers went missing from a motor vehicle transporting them.

CRISIS MEETING

Field officers had to photocopy the Science and Kiswahili papers from a nearby primary school to enable the 17 candidates to start sitting their exam at 10.10am instead of 8.30am.

By yesterday evening, a security operation launched by local officials, including Narok County Commissioner George Natembeya, to recover the materials, was yet to trace them.

The development also forced Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed to hold a crisis meeting with Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) officials in Nairobi.

MOVE SWIFTLY

The incident occurred on the day President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, Mr William Ruto, joined other government officers in managing the examinations.

“We were able to move in swiftly and the candidates did their examinations,” the Knec chairman, Prof George Magoha, yesterday afternoon.

He, however, stated that the examination had not been leaked.

DISAPPEARANCE

The Oloonamuka head teacher, his seven colleagues and three security officers, who were in the vehicle carrying the papers, were arrested and detained at the Olpusimoru Police Station. Already, the officers have been replaced.

“The lady collected the exam papers from a container at Olokurto Division Education Office and put them in a handbag, but how they slipped out of the vehicle is a matter for investigations,” said Mr Natembeya, adding that reports indicated that the suspects might have been involved in the papers disappearance.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

In Laikipia, a candidate's body was found in a dam in Matuiku a few days after he was reported missing.

Anthony Wambugu went missing on October 25.

In Homa Bay, a candidate is said to have attempted suicide by taking a pesticide.

Another candidate died in Murang’a on Tuesday night after doing the exam on the first day.

GAVE BIRTH

Lucy Mwiting’iri died at home a few hours after she was treated in hospital and discharged.

In Migori, a boy was arrested for alleged impersonation at Matagaro Primary School in Rongo Sub-County, while a girl in Kisii was arraigned in an Ogembo court for impersonation.

A 19-year-old private candidate was forced to sit the exam in a police station after being arrested over an arson claim.

In Butere, a candidate sat the exam in a maternity ward after she gave birth.

BROKE LEG

In Embu, two candidates sat the exam in hospitals after one experienced labour pains and the other broke her leg.

In Kwale, a second candidate birth in the county after another delivered yesterday morning.

A Mombasa candidate sat her exam at Mrima Hospital in Likoni after giving birth.

SPECIAL EXAMS

Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary-General Wilson Sossion asked the government to administer special exams to candidates in hospital.

"They are in pain and should be given an opportunity to do the exams when they are well," he said.

Two candidates in Magarini, Kilifi, failed to sit the exam after they got married.

GOT MARRIED

Magarini Deputy County Commissioner Simon Lokorio said residents claimed the two girls from Kaembeni Primary School got married in the nearby villages.

“The girls could not be traced in their homes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy President Ruto, speaking in Kiambu, said all the candidates would be absorbed in either secondary schools or technical training colleges next year.

TRAINING COLLEGE

The government would pay fees for all those who will be joining secondary schools.

Those enrolling for technical training colleges will also have their fees paid by the government up to Sh30,000 per year.

They will also get loans from the Higher Education Loans Board.

DEPUTY PRESIDENT

“It has been eight years of learning. I’m confident that those were exciting moments for you. I am confident you will emerge victorious. Be assured we are going support you as you join Form One,” said Mr Ruto.

He was addressing candidates of Musa Gitau Primary School in Kikuyu.

MEDICAL COVER

As part of the universal healthcare plan, Mr Ruto said that all secondary school students would enjoy free insurance medical cover.

He said several avenues had been created to enable students to pursue different careers.

“The available pathways in academia or technical training institutes will enable our youth to tap into their different talents, impacting positively on the government’s development agenda.”

Reported by George Sayagie, Ouma Wanzala, Mohamed Ahmed, Charles Lwanga, Fadhili Fredrick, Ndungu Gachane, Charles Wanyoro, Ruth Mbula, Vitalis Kimutai, Victor Raballa, Benson Amadala, Elisha Otieno, Elizabeth Ojina, Steve Njuguna, Waikwa Maina, Diana Kimanzi, Shamah Koech and Francis Mureithi