Uhuru Directs Matiang'i to Set Another KCPE Exam

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday directed Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i and his Ministry officials to ensure that a special KCPE examination is set for students who were unable to sit the normal exam.

Through State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu, the President noted that the exam should be administered because of compassionate reasons that hinder students from undertaking the test as scheduled.

"The President has directed the Education Cabinet Secretary and his Ministry to set special supplementary examinations for a special cadre of students who because of compassionate reasons may be difficult to sit exam during the normal calendar," Esipisu stated.

As to who qualifies to seat the exam, Mr Esipisu stated: "The special examination would be undertaken by students who may be ill, students who may have lost their parents during that period and those who may have given birth".

[caption caption="File image of Mr Esipisu addressing the media"][/caption]

The announcement comes just a few hours after CS Matiang'i released this years' KCPE results at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Nairobi.

During the event, Matiang'i announced that the leading candidate scored 455 marks out of a possible 500, which was an improvement from 437 that was attained in 2016.

He added that a student from a public school had emerged second countrywide and promised to work closely with public schools that had students in the top 100.

"Public schools that have produced top 100 candidates will receive a special financial allocation to support their infrastructure.

"Special needs schools have produced 6 of the top 100 candidates," revealed the CS.

[caption caption="Education CS Fred Matiang'i handing over results to President Kenyatta earlier today"][/caption]

He also noted that no malpractices were recorded thus everyone who sat for the exam would access their results.

The Ministry of Education boss further stressed that by Jamhuri day (December 12), every student will be placed in a secondary school as the selection is set to kick off next week.

A total of 993,718 candidates sat for the examination.