Lamu, KENYA: Journalists in Lamu were on Tuesday morning barred from taking photos of the KCPE exam containers as they were being opened.
The container is located just in front of the county commissioner’s office in Lamu town next to the seafront.
While presiding over the opening ceremony, Lamu County Director for Education William Micheni stated that no photos would be taken as the region is a security zone.
At some point, Micheni ordered police to arrest journalists who insisted on trying to snap away photos of the container.
He also announced that journalists would not be allowed anywhere near exam centers both during KCPE and KSCE exams in the region.
“It doesn’t matter if journalists elsewhere are being allowed to take photos, this is Lamu and its special for a reason. This is a security area and we shall ensure not much goes out.No one will take photos of the exam container or go anywhere close to exam centers to take photos. Whoever tries that will be in trouble,” said Micheni.
Apart from the brief drama from the education boss, the exam containers were opened right on time at around 5.30am by which time head teachers had already arrived and queued ready to collect the exam papers.
Meanwhile, security is tight across Lamu as the KCPE exams kick off.
Speaking in Lamu town shortly after the exams kicked off on Tuesday morning, County Deputy Commissioner Louis Rono said adequate measures have been taken to secure all exam centers in the region.
Rono said adequate deployments of security officers had been made to the Lamu-Somalia border areas of Kiunga, Ishakani, Mkokoni, Kiwayu and other places bordering the Boni forest.
“As far as security is concerned, we are confident that we have done the best to ensure these exams proceed smoothly,” he said.
Lamu has a total of 2,985 KCPE candidates this year of which 1,521 are boys while 1,464 are girls.
