Panic as KCSE paper is delayed for hours over missing keys
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination delayed for hours in Kirinyaga County on Monday after the keys of the container where test papers had been kept went missing.
Candidates from schools in Ndia zone were supposed to start writing for their tests at 8am but were kept waiting for three hours.
County education officials learnt the keys of the container which had been kept at the Kirinyaga West Sub-County administration headquarters in Baricho were missing in the morning and rushed there.
They looked for the keys everywhere but they could not find them. After failing to get the keys, the officials communicated to the Kenya National Examination Council headquarters in Nairobi as a matter of urgency.
It was then that the KNEC officials brought the duplicate keys and opened the container where all test papers of all examination centres had been stored.
MISPLACED KEYS
The County Quality Assurance and Standards officer, Mr Maina Ngunjiri confirmed that the keys had been misplaced.
“Keys of the container could not be traced and we had to inform KNEC which responded very fast. The KNEC has also replaced the container’s lock with a new one to ensure there will be no leakage of the examination,” said Mr Ngunjiri
Mr Ngunjiri however could not disclose who had the keys to the containers before they got lost.
He said although there was delay, the students sat for the examinations went on without a further hitch.
“After the container was opened the papers were ferried to various centres and examination went on smoothly,” he said adding that there was no cause for alarm.
CONFLICTING INFORMATION
Earlier, the Kirinyaga West Deputy County Commissioner Mr Samuel Mwati had given conflicting information.
He said the delay was caused when the lock jammed as the container was being opened to remove the test papers for distribution.
“The lock jammed leading to the delay in transporting papers to various examination centres,” he said
Tension mount in the zone as news went round that the candidates may not sit for the examination due to lack of keys.
“There was panic among the candidates and the examination supervisors after the keys got lost under mysterious circumstances,” sources said.
