The Ministry of Education has confirmed that the ongoing KCSE exams in Marakwet East will continue as scheduled despite the devastating landslide that struck the region.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba on Sunday, November 2, said the government has put in place adequate measures to ensure exam materials are safely delivered to all affected learning institutions.
Ogamba noted that teams are already on the ground assessing schools impacted by the landslide to ensure no candidate misses their papers.
“We assure all KCSE candidates in the region that we have put in place adequate contingency plans to ensure they proceed with their remaining papers,” he said.
“If any centres have been affected, arrangements will be made so that students from those areas sit for their Monday exams without disruption.”
His remarks come as rescue operations continue in Chesongoch, Elgeyo Marakwet County, where the landslide claimed more than 20 lives and left several families displaced after heavy rainfall on Saturday morning, November 1, 2025.
In his message, Ogamba sent condolences to the grieving families and expressed solidarity with the community facing the tragedy.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Education, we convey our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and relatives of our compatriots who lost their lives in the Marakwet East landslide disaster,” he stated.
Earlier, the Kenya Red Cross confirmed that many residents in Moror Village and Chesongoch Centre were injured during the incident, adding that emergency response teams have been activated to support the victims.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura reported that a multi-agency team Including the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), the National Youth Service (NYS), and the National Police Service (NPS) has been deployed to provide medical assistance, food, and psychosocial support.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen assured that residents in high-risk areas of the Kerio Valley are being evacuated to safer zones as a precaution, warning that the region remains susceptible to mudslides during the rainy season.
Murkomen also emphasized the need for long-term climate mitigation efforts, including aggressive tree-planting initiatives, to reduce the frequency and impact of similar disasters in the future.
According to KNEC a total of 996,078 candidates are undertaking the 2025 KCSE examinations.