Teachers, candidates assured of security after Garissa IED attacks

Garissa County Commissioner Solomon Chesut has assured all teachers and candidates sitting for the national exams that the government has deployed enough security officers to ensure a smooth process.

At least four security officers were killed on Sunday and Monday Morning in two separate attacks hours before the start  of the national examination kick-off.

All four were killed after their vehicles were hit by an explosive planted on the road by suspected al Shabaab militants according to security agents.

The latest incident happened on Monday morning at 6 am when officers from Hagar Dam GSU camp while on patrol ran over an Improvised Explosive Device that left one of them dead and two others injured.

On Sunday, three National Police Reservists (NPR) were killed after a vehicle they were traveling in was hit by an explosive at the Diso area within the Fafi sub-county.

Speaking during the opening of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination container this morning, Chesut said that plans have been made to reach the far-flung areas along the Kenya – Somalia border and other areas where roads are impassable.

“We are set to ensure the national examinations go uninterrupted. We have put in place all the security necessary security measures to ensure all terror threats are deterred,” he said.

He added:

“This is a special county because of the challenges of al Shabaab and roads that are impassable. There are two helicopters on standby to transport exams to areas near the border such as Liboi, Fafi, Dadaab, and Hulugho. Everything has been set and we believe we are going to have a good exercise.

“I want to assure the students that security will be provided and we hope there will be no challenges,” he added.

Adan Roble, the North Eastern Regional Director of Education said despite the rains in Mandera and Wajir, the government had provided at least six helicopters two in each county.

“We have choppers to help us in the execution of this exercise in the region which will be used mostly in areas affected by rains and along the border where we face security challenges,” he said.

According to  Roble, all candidates in the region have been confirmed registered.

A total of 10,856 candidates will be sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in Garissa while 7,087 candidates will be sitting for the same in Wajir.

8,259 candidates are sitting for the same in Mandera county.

Another 11,056 candidates will be sitting for KPSEA in Garissa and another 7781 will be sitting for the same in Wajir.

In Mandera, 9241 candidates are sitting for KPSEA.

Garissa County has a total of 191 centers where 4,784 candidates from public schools and 5,072 from private schools are expected to sit for the last KCPE exams.

Out of the numbers, boys are 6,119 while girls are 3,737.