The National Gender and Equality Commission will petition the Ministry of Education over the movement of learners in Turkana South from their schools to sit national examinations elsewhere.
The matter arose on Wednesday 7 October 2026 during a meeting between the Commission and the Deputy County Commissioner for Turkana South Sub-County, Mr Gedion Ombongi.
The meeting heard that many schools in the sub-county are not registered as examination centres. Learners in those schools are moved to registered centres in other schools to sit their national examinations.
The Chairperson, Hon. Rehema Jaldesa, expressed strong objection to the practice, saying it disenfranchises learners. She undertook to petition the Ministry of Education to address the matter.
ASSESSMENTS WEEKS AWAY
The timing is pressing. The Kenya National Examinations Council will administer national examinations and assessments to 3,634,846 candidates between 16 October and 20 November 2026. The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment for Grade 6 and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment for Grade 9 run from 26 to 30 October.
INSECURITY AND DROUGHT
The meeting also discussed insecurity in the sub-county, the number of children orphaned as a result of raids, and the effects of drought and famine on families. Disarmament operations in the county have divided local leaders, and more than 322,000 people in Turkana are projected to need food assistance this year.
