Education

Double trouble for KCPE/KCSE candidates

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Published on Saturday, 09 June 2007 01:20

As the clock ticks away to this years’ KCPE and KCSE examinations, anxiety and desperateness has gripped hundreds of candidates along the Gucha and Transmara common border following the resurgence of tribal clashes. Coupled with the teachers’ strike that enters its fourth week on Monday, the situation is making candidates, parents and guardians ask themselves whether it is prudent to hold KCSE examinations set to start on October 22.

“Candidates are preparing for the exams on their own. Their teachers have walked out on them. As if that is not enough, fighting between Kisiis and Maasais forces them, especially boys to abandon their books to take part in the fighting in the name of defending their communities,” says a teacher at a local school. A candidate at a Gucha secondary school, Master Masese Mochanga says, “if asked my opinion, I would advise that the examinations be held in either February or March next year because by then we could have no more clashes and the electioneering period could have been over.”

A parliamentary aspirant for Bomachoge Constituency, the worst clash-hit area, Mr Cyprian Nyamwamu, blames the police and a cabinet minister of failling to act. Nyamwamu adds that some politicians, especially in Transmara district are bent on causing tribal dispondency to scare away voters from other communities residing in the district perceived to be Opposition sympathisers.

He says the Catholic Church is planning to hold joint services along the border as one way of promoting peace in the area. “We shall use the church services to preach about peace and unity among members of the two communities,” says Nyamwamu. Another Parliamentary aspirant for Bobasi Constituency, Mr Kepta Ombati says leaders should not exploit the ignorance of the voters by invoking tribal sentiments as a gimmick to win elections. He says a General Service Unity (GSU) camp at Nyangoso, another marketplace at the common boarder has not lived to the expectations of the locals as it has failed to ensure lasting peace. Ombati wonders why the clashes along the border always escalate during the electioneering period. He gives the example of 1992 and 1997 general elections.

Ombati criticises Cabinet Ministers, Chris Obure, Julius Sunkuli and Bomachoge MP, Mr Zephaniah Nyang’wara for doing nothing to stop the fighting. He warns that the fighting will seriously affect the candidates as they prepare their examinations that will define the next step in the search for further education.