Mother of KCSE candidate who succumbed hours to exams speaks

The mother of the deceased candidate, who was to sit for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary School Education (KCSE) exams, has narrated how her son died painfully.

Ms Naomi Kendi said her son Nicholas Kairithia started complaining of frequent stomachaches and she took him to Kenyatta National Hospital for further check-up, X-ray scans and treatment.

But to her shock, the doctors discovered a rare condition.

"Since January, my son started feeling unwell. He complained of stomachaches. I took him to Kenyatta National Hospital for scans and tests. Doctors told me they discovered a rare growth on his liver. They proposed for surgery. But this couldn't happen before further tests and chest scans. Unfortunately the upper part encompassing the chest was healthy and this, the doctors told me, was not suggestive for the intended surgery. They told me they had never seen such a growth in the liver," she said.

Nicholas was to sit for his exams at Kamaro Secondary School in Tigania West sub-County, Meru County.

Confirming the incident while supervising the opening of the said examination container at Kiirua, in Buuri East sub-County at the Deputy County Commissioner’s office, Meru County Commissioner Jacob Ouma said two(2) other female candidates will do their examinations in the hospital after being admitted and giving birth.

Mr Ouma said Meru County has 29,148 candidates in 412 KCSE exam centres where among them, 13,907 are boys and 15,241 are girls.

Mr Ouma said 12 male inmates will be doing their exams from different prisons within the county.

Ms Kendi said after doctors removed specimens of his ailing body part for further analysis at Aga Khan Hospital in October 2024, the results were devastating.

"Doctors told me, the condition was at a stage they would do nothing. Despite him showing some signs of recovery, he succumbed to the disease over the weekend," Ms Kendi said at her home as tears rolled down her cheeks.

She said her son had big future dreams of becoming an electrical engineer.

She said when the pains persisted, Nicholas declared not to bow down to the disease, but insisted he must continue with his exams even if meant sitting for the tests while in hospital bed.

"This year, just after registering his exams, he never attended class. He had told me, even if he would be very sick and weak to walk to school, and because examiners cannot bring the exams at home, I carry him to hospital, where he would take them while admitted. My son was extremely skillful…especially on wiring," she said.

Nicholas' brother--Amos Kaimenyi--appealed for well wishes to help their family because they had sold their only land to cater for medication of his brother.

"I had committed myself to take care of him during his exam period. I would serve him fruits and energy-giving foods to see him overcome and perform but it is now too late. We are drained of funds. We have already sold land and I appeal to well-wishers and government to come to our aid to bury our brother," Mr Kaimenyi said.