West Pokot: A total of 13,662 candidates are sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Exams (KCSE) in West Pokot County, marking a pivotal moment for thousands of candidates across the county.
According to Kenya News Agency, this year’s cohort includes 6,649 boys and 5,487 girls, reflecting a significant increase of 18.4% compared to last year’s numbers. County Director of Education Simon Wamae expressed his confidence in the candidates’ preparedness, emphasizing the importance of a conducive environment for optimal performance. “Today marks the culmination of years of learning, and we are proud of our students. We encourage all candidates to remain calm and focused during this crucial period,” said Wamae.
Wamae highlighted the inclusion of two private centers, one in Pokot North and another in West Pokot Sub-county, accommodating a total of 176 candidates. Additionally, an adult school is participating with 61 candidates. He noted a positive trend in female participation, stating that the number of
girls this year has increased, although they have not yet reached gender parity in enrollment. Wamae promised that strategies are in place to help equalize these numbers in the future.
Further improvements in examination logistics were also noted, with the number of examination containers increased from 16 to 25. “We do not expect many challenges this year, as this will reduce the distance teachers need to travel for exam collection,” Wamae said. He expressed confidence in both the candidates and the supervision process, believing that all the teachers in charge of supervision are ready.
Wamae emphasized the importance of a fair testing environment, reminding all security team supervisors and invigilators to ensure that mobile phones are collected in one place and that there is no use of phones during the exams. On his part, Deputy County Commissioner Wycliff Mnanda emphasized the readiness of the security department to ensure the exams proceed without any hitch. “We are fully prepared to maintain security
throughout the examination period,” Mnanda stated.
Mnanda issued a stern warning to anyone considering exam malpractice, declaring that those who attempt to steal the exam will face legal action. He addressed the security measures, announcing that two security officers have been deployed to each centre at the sub-counties to ensure safety throughout the examination period. “We do not expect any challenges, as the supervisors have been fully instructed on their roles,” Mnanda said.