Candidates from two Moyale secondary schools moved to safer examination venues following stray gunfire.
Officials moved candidates to nearby primary schools after gunfire from a conflict in Ethiopia reached two secondary schools near the border.
Stray bullets disrupted Moyale KCSE exams in Marsabit County on November 2, forcing students at two schools to flee. The gunfire came from an ongoing conflict in neighbouring Ethiopia.
Bullets struck Sessi Mixed Secondary School and St Mary’s Mixed Secondary School, interrupting the distribution of examination papers. Officials later moved the affected candidates to safer locations, with examinations expected to continue as scheduled.
Moyale KCSE exams moved to safer locations
Moyale Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner Benedict Munywoki said the two schools stand close to the Kenya-Ethiopia border. Their proximity leaves them vulnerable to gunfire from fighting across the boundary.
He placed Sessi Secondary School approximately 60 to 100 metres from the international border. Officials therefore transferred its candidates to Sessi Primary School so they could continue their examinations safely.
Munywoki also said candidates from both affected secondary schools would use nearby primary schools as examination venues. The move followed the disruption to paper distribution, which began that day.
Meanwhile, the incident has heightened safety concerns for candidates, teachers and officers overseeing the national examinations. The KCSE examination period is expected to end on November 20.
Border conflict increases humanitarian pressure
The fighting in Ethiopia reportedly involves two communities living near the Kenyan border. The conflict has also caused deaths and property destruction, while more than 40,000 Ethiopians have crossed into Kenya seeking safety.
In response, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights has called for urgent humanitarian assistance. It urged action to protect displaced people and reduce pressure on the communities hosting them.
In an October 27 statement, the commission said the influx had increased demand for essential supplies and services. These include food, clean water, shelter, sanitation and healthcare.
Alongside those humanitarian needs, residents have called on the government to intervene and ensure their safety. The examination disruption adds to concerns about the conflict’s effects on communities near the border.
