ITEN, Elgeyo Marakwet County – The Ministry of Education has confirmed that the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations will proceed as scheduled in Marakwet East, even as a massive multi-agency rescue operation continues following a devastating landslide that has claimed 26 lives and left 25 people missing. The decision underscores the government's commitment to maintaining the national academic calendar amidst a tragedy that has shattered the remote Kerio Valley community.

The landslide, triggered by torrential rains, struck in the early hours of Saturday, November 1, 2025, sweeping away homes and burying families in the villages of Chesongoch and Moror. In a joint statement on Sunday, November 2, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura announced that contingency measures were in place to ensure the examinations, which began nationwide on Monday, November 3, would not be disrupted for the affected students.

“This tragedy has disrupted the ongoing exams. However, the government, through the Ministry of Education, has organised for the exams to continue uninterrupted,” Mwaura stated. He detailed that examination papers and other materials will be airlifted to designated emergency centers for candidates from at least 15 schools that have become inaccessible. Additionally, special provisions have been made for an injured student to take their exams from a hospital bed.

A Region Prone to Disaster

The Elgeyo Marakwet escarpment is a region notoriously susceptible to landslides, with a history of similar deadly events. Previous tragedies in 2010, 2012, and 2020 have claimed dozens of lives, raising persistent questions about disaster preparedness and land use policies in the area. Investigations have consistently linked the disasters to a combination of steep terrain, heavy seasonal rainfall, and human factors such as deforestation and farming on unsafe slopes.

Speaking in Eldoret on Sunday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen attributed the latest catastrophe to widespread deforestation and unsustainable agricultural practices. “The biggest problem with this issue is deforestation, the problem of landlessness,” Murkomen said, urging residents in high-risk zones along the Kerio Valley to heed evacuation warnings and move to safer ground. Despite repeated warnings and government efforts to map high-risk zones, resettling vulnerable families has remained a significant challenge.

Massive Rescue and Relief Effort

A large-scale, multi-agency response is underway, involving the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service, and the Kenya Red Cross. Military and police helicopters are playing a crucial role, airlifting injured survivors to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret and delivering essential supplies. As of Sunday, 21 survivors were admitted at MTRH with various injuries.

The Kenya Red Cross reported that access to some of the hardest-hit areas remains extremely difficult due to blocked roads and continued rainfall, hampering the search for the 25 individuals still unaccounted for. The government has begun distributing relief supplies, including hundreds of bags of rice and beans, blankets, and mattresses, to support the more than 1,000 displaced households. Psychosocial support teams have also been deployed to assist grieving families.

Balancing Education and Trauma

The decision to proceed with the KCSE examinations, a high-stakes assessment crucial for students' future academic and career paths, highlights a difficult national balancing act. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba offered condolences to the affected families and assured candidates that the ministry would ensure the process is seamless. “We assure all national examination and assessment candidates in the region that we have put in place adequate contingency plans to ensure that they proceed with their remaining papers,” Ogamba said in a statement on Sunday.

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has previously established protocols for administering exams during emergencies, including using helicopters to deliver materials during widespread flooding. The 2025 KCSE theory papers are scheduled to run from Monday, November 3, to November 21. While authorities are focused on logistical solutions, the psychological toll on students sitting for critical exams in the immediate aftermath of such a profound community trauma remains a significant concern for local leaders and educators.