By Eldoret Leo 
A family in Uasin Gishu County is mourning the death of a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidate from Turbo Sub-County who died while undertaking the 2026 national examinations.
The candidate, identified as Cornelius Kiplagat Rotich, was a student at Katebee Secondary School in Turbo Sub-County. He passed away on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed the student’s death in a statement released on Wednesday, November 4, announcing that three candidates had died under different circumstances since the beginning of the national examinations.
According to the CS, Rotich died after sitting his Mathematics examination earlier on Tuesday.
His death has cast a shadow over the ongoing KCSE examinations in Uasin Gishu, where hundreds of candidates are undertaking the national assessment alongside learners from other parts of the country.
MTRH, one of the largest referral hospitals in the region, was where the student was taken before his death. However, the Ministry of Education did not disclose further details about the circumstances surrounding his death.
The incident comes as candidates across Uasin Gishu and other counties continue sitting their examinations, which commenced on Monday, November 2.
In his statement, Ogamba also confirmed the deaths of two other candidates from Homa Bay and Siaya counties.
The first was Otieno Congestina Achieng’, a student at Alaru Central Mixed Secondary School in Rachuonyo West Sub-County, Homa Bay County.
According to the Education CS, Congestina fell ill while undertaking her examinations on Monday, November 2, and was rushed to hospital, where she later died.
The third candidate was Vivianne Adhiambo Owiti of Dhene Secondary School in Gem Wagai Sub-County, Siaya County.
Vivianne was reportedly murdered at her family home on Friday, October 30, just days before the commencement of the national examinations.
Ogamba revealed that a suspect linked to her killing had been arrested and was in police custody as investigations continued.
The three deaths have raised concerns about the welfare and safety of learners as the country administers one of its largest national examination exercises.
Following the incidents, the Education CS conveyed the Ministry’s condolences to the families, friends, teachers and school communities affected by the deaths.
He also wished candidates receiving medical attention in various health facilities across the country a speedy recovery.
The Ministry acknowledged the challenges faced by learners during the examination period and emphasised the importance of supporting candidates who require medical attention.
The developments come at a time when schools, parents and education officials across the country are working to ensure candidates complete their examinations without unnecessary disruptions.
This year’s KCSE examination has recorded a historic milestone, with 1,048,355 candidates registered to sit the national examinations across more than 10,000 examination centres countrywide.
The examinations began on November 2 and are scheduled to conclude on Friday, November 20, 2026.
The 2026 cohort is also the second-last group to undertake the national examination under the traditional 8-4-4 education system as Kenya continues its transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
In Uasin Gishu, the death of Rotich has brought attention to the human side of the national examination exercise, reminding communities that beyond the pressure of academic performance, the safety, health and wellbeing of candidates remain equally important.
The Ministry of Education is expected to continue overseeing the examination process as candidates across the country prepare to complete their final papers.
Robert Mutasi 
Baraka Simba