NAIROBI, Kenya — A Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) examiner has died while marking the nation’s junior school exams in Machakos County.
The late examiner, Nicodemus Mutuku, passed away on Monday morning at a marking centre located at Machakos Girls High School, where he had been working since November 7. The council’s Chief Executive Officer, David Njengere, confirmed Mutuku’s death in a statement.
Mutuku was serving as team leader for the Creative Arts and Sports exam paper and was actively involved in the marking exercise when he suddenly collapsed. He had been part of the month-long assessment exercise.
A seasoned educator, Mutuku taught at Nduluni Junior School in Makindu, Makueni County, and had a longstanding career as a national examiner — first during the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) era and later under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Njengere described him as “an experienced, diligent teacher … a gem” whose leadership and professionalism left a mark on KNEC and the broader education community. According to the council, he maintained high standards and offered strong guidance to his team throughout the marking process.
KNEC extended its condolences to his family, colleagues, and fellow educators, promising to support his loved ones during this difficult time.
The tragedy follows closely on the heels of another incident: just days ago, four KCSE candidates died in a road accident in Mbooni, Makueni County, as they were returning home after their exams.
