State deploys choppers to deliver exams papers in North Eastern

The government has deployed choppers to deliver KCPE papers in the border examination centres in the North-Eastern counties of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties.

Addressing the press Tuesday morning after opening the examination container at the Garissa County Commissioner’s compound, North Eastern regional commissioner James Kianda said that the choppers are being used to deliver the papers in far-flung centres along Kenya Somalia and Ethiopia borders.

Kianda said that among the centres whose papers are being delivered by air include Hulugho, Galmagala, Liboi, Kulan in Garissa, Eastern parts of Habassweini in Wajir and Arabiya, Takaba in Mandera.

“KNEC in liaison with Interior and Education ministries have deployed some choppers that are delivering exams to the far flunk areas and that includes the borders,” Kianda said.

Security has also been reinforced across the border and in schools to ensure the exercise goes on smoothly.

The region has in the last few months experienced attacks by suspected al Shabaab militants.

The regional commissioner said that security officers including the KDF and the border patrol units are also involved in securing examination centres that are close to the border.

“The security forces are all working together in making sure that we secure this examination. The KDF and our border patrol units are managing the borders to make sure that there is no interference from any other quarter out there,” Kianda said

“Every security officer in the region is directly or indirectly involved in this process,” he added.

Kianda later toured Garissa Primary to assess the progress of the examinations that enters day two Tuesday where he encouraged the candidates to undertake the exams without fear.

A total of 12,189 boys and 8,839 girls are sitting for their KCPE in 582 centres in the North-Eastern region this year.

Additionally, there are 1,834 boys and 1,207 girls from refugees sitting for the examinations.

Over 1.2 million candidates are sitting for this year’s KCPE exams across the country.